Want to muscle up like Popeye? Forget spinach and reach for the mustard. Why? It contains a natural steroid – homobrassinolide - which increases muscle mass and strength of muscle fibre, according to research from North Carolina State University. ‘We hope that one day brassinosteroids may provide an effective, natural, and safe alternative for age- and disease-associated muscle loss, or be used to improve endurance and physical performance,’ said Dr Slavko Komarnytsky who led the research.
Subscribe to our e-newsletter
For the latest herb facts, news and updates, subscribe to our free e-newsletter.
Quiz
Want to be a herb know-all? Study our Herb File, put your mind to this quiz and watch your score soar to eight out of eight!
Our experts
Our panel of experts are here to provide help and advice on your herb-related queries.
Readers' questions
Letters from our readers and answers from our experts!
Do you have a problem?
If you have a problem why not ask one of our experts for some advice?