Just a few more portions of broccoli each week may protect men from prostate cancer, British researchers report today.
They believe a chemical in the food sparks hundreds of genetic changes, activating some genes that fight cancer and switching off others that fuel tumours, said Richard Mithen, a biologist at Britain's Institute of Food Research.
The benefit would likely be the same in other cruciferous vegetables that contain a compound called isothiocyanate, including brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, rocket or arugula, watercress and horseradish, they added.
Broccoli, however, has a particularly powerful type of the compound called sulforaphane, which the researchers think gives the green vegetable an extra cancer-fighting kick, Mithen said.
I knew there was a good reason for encouraging my sons to eat their vegetables.
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