FANS of sushi now have another excuse to indulge. The compounds that give a
fiery kick to wasabi—the green horseradish paste served with sushi and
sashimi—help 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.
“Eating sushi will help the teeth,” Masuda says.
Some traditional European dishes may also help to prevent cavities, as
isothiocyanates are found in cabbage and broccoli.
