FANS of sushi now have another excuse to indulge. The compounds that give a
fiery kick to wasabi鈥攖he green horseradish paste served with sushi and
sashimi鈥攈elp to prevent tooth decay.
Hideki Masuda, research director at the chemical company Ogawa & Co in
Chiba, Japan, told the International Chemical Congress in Hawaii last week that
these compounds, called isothiocyanates, retard the growth of plaque bacteria.
鈥淓ating sushi will help the teeth,鈥� Masuda says.
Some traditional European dishes may also help to prevent cavities, as
isothiocyanates are found in cabbage and broccoli.
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