| Cruciferous Vegetables |
 |
 A
special group of vegetables called cruciferous vegetables have excellent
cancer fighting properties. Research suggests that these cruciferous vegetables
contain a kind of phytochemical known as isothiocyanates,
which stimulate our bodies to break down potential carcinogens.
They work by preventing the transformation of normal healthy cells into
cancerous cells. Some examples of cruciferous vegetables are:
Arugula
Bok choy
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Chinese cabbage
Collard greens
Daikon
Kale
Kohlrabi
Mustard greens
Radishes
Rutabaga
Turnips
Watercress
An excellent example from this group of vegetables is broccoli. Broccoli
contains sulforaphane, which is a natural chemical that stimulate our
bodies to produce enzymes and destroy carcinogens. This substance is particularly
rich in broccoli sprouts and about 20 to 50 times richer in mature broccoli.
At the Harbor UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California, a study was conducted
to document the effects of eating broccoli among men and women aged 50 to
74. The results showed that those who consumed
more broccoli (average: 3.7 half-cup cooked servings weekly) were 50 percent
less likely to develop colorectal cancer than those who never ate broccoli.
At the John Hopkins University in Baltimore, scientists also tested the
effects of broccoli sprouts on rats. The rats were first fed broccoli sprouts.
A few days later, they were injected with carcinogen. The results showed
that the rats that ate broccoli sprouts developed smaller, fewer and slower-growing
tumors than the rats that were on a regular diet.
At the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, researchers discovered that
men who consumed three or more half-cup servings
of cruciferous vegetables a week were 41 percent less likely to develop
prostate cancer. These men were between the ages of 40 and 64.
Many cruciferous vegetables also contain a compound called
indole-3-carbinol. This compound is said to reduce the risk of hormone dependent
cancers such as prostate, breast and ovarian cancer.
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