Broccoli could be the key to staying young and healthy for longer say some scientists. This is because of their high content of chemicals called indoles which have been shown to keep mice and other animals fitter as they grow older.
The discovery could lead to an anti-ageing pill that helps people enjoy their twilight years in good health instead of becoming frail and infirm.
Professor Daniel Kalman, of Emory University in Atlanta, said: "This is a direct avenue to a drug that could make people live better for longer."
The study found indoles - found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and kale - enabled worms, flies and mice to maintain mobility and resilience for more of their lifespans.
The focus of their research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is on living healthier lives - but not necessarily longer.
The good news doesn't stop there however. Just last year another compound in broccoli called NMN - nicotinamide mononucleotide - was found to slow ageing in mice. Since the discovery, clinical trials have begun in humans.
