A class of chemical compounds called indoles seem to have the potential for extending vitality in mice.
Some of indole’s chemical versions, such as Indole-3-carbinol, can be found in Brussels sprouts (ewww), broccoli (yum), cabbage (meh), and other cruciferous vegetables. Indoles are also produced in our gut by many kinds of bacteria that break down tryptophan, which is an essential amino acid.
New research – led by Daniel Kalman, Ph.D., a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA – examines the effect of indoles on improving the “health-span” of various organisms, ranging from fruit flies to mice. He notes that, “We need a better understanding of health-span. With medical advances, people are living longer; but you might not really want to live longer if it means spending those extra years frail and infirm.”
Excerpted from MedicalNewsToday