Broccoli stands out as a powerful anti-cancer food provided by nature. The entire group of cruciferous vegetables, also recognized as the cabbage family, is packed with compounds that are known to combat cancer and regulate hormones. Research involving humans has demonstrated that these vegetables can contribute to a reduced risk of various types of cancer, including those of the lung, stomach, colorectal area, prostate, cervix, and bladder. The cabbage family encompasses vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale.
Among the most beneficial substances found in these vegetables are sulphoraphanes, including DIM (Di indole methane) and I3C (Indole 3 carbinol), as well as a sulfur-rich compound called glucosinolate. Broccoli, kale, and broccoli sprouts are particularly rich in these compounds. The question arises, how do these substances exert their effects?
Detoxification: These compounds play a crucial role in the liver’s detoxification pathways. The liver’s responsibility is to convert toxic chemicals, which we may encounter from environmental exposures, into forms that can be readily eliminated from the body via feces and urine.
Antioxidant: Sulphoraphanes also possess powerful antioxidant properties that protect our skin, the retina of the eye (which is crucial for vision), the linings of our blood vessels, and our joints from the damage caused by free radical oxidation.
Anti-Inflammation: The anti-inflammatory effects of sulphoraphanes are noteworthy as they reduce the levels of COX-2 enzymes, which are known to be elevated in conditions like arthritis and many types of cancer.
Hormone Metabolism: Additionally, sulphoraphanes aid in the proper metabolism of our hormones, thereby decreasing the cancer-promoting effects of estrogens in both males and females.
Anti-Cancer: Sulphoraphanes are particularly effective in the treatment and prevention of cancer because they address all the above factors that are associated with the development and progression of cancer. The National Cancer Institute has even acknowledged the significant potential of sulphoraphanes found in these vegetables and has initiated several human studies to explore their mechanisms of action.
Dr. Nalini Chilkov, L.Ac. OMD, who is the founder of the OutSmart Cancer® System, has a wealth of knowledge accumulated over 35 years of experience with thousands of patients. Dr. Chilkov has shared this expertise globally, including at the Schools of Medicine at UCLA and UC Irvine, and is often sought after as an expert by the media.
