Seeds of cruciferous plants contain the highest levels of isothiocyanate precursors | Jed Fahey

That fiery sensation that occurs when you eat certain cruciferous plants such as horseradish or mustard is the result of a chemical reaction between two compounds (a glucosinolate and myrosinase) present in the plant. Dubbed the "mustard oil bomb," this reaction is a defense system that protects plants from insect attack – and human consumption. The end product of the reaction is an isothiocyanate compound that activates cytoprotective mechanisms in humans in a hormetic-type response. The seeds of cruciferous vegetables are particularly good sources of isothiocyanates, but care must be taken to preserve the myrosinase, which is heat sensitive. In this clip, Dr. Jed Fahey describes the chemical reaction that produces isothiocyanates and cautions against preparation techniques that might inhibit their production. This clip was taken from the FoundMyFitness interview with Dr. Jed Fahey found at    • Jed Fahey, Sc.D. on Isothiocyanates, the N...   Original episode published on Jan 6, 2017 🥦 #Sulforaphane #nutrition #isothiocyanates 🥦