Broccoli could help prevent and slow bladder cancer Its New research has identified compounds found in broccoli that may aid in preventing or slowing the progression of bladder cancer. The findings support previous findings which demonstrated that men who consumed two or more half-cup servings per week saw 44% lower bladder cancer incidence compared to those consuming less than one helping every week.
Broccoli sprouts contain compounds known as glucosinolates that, when chewed and digested, transform into isothiocyanates – compounds believed to help fight cancer.
Laboratory experiments demonstrated that isothiocyanates could effectively inhibit bladder cancer cell growth; their greatest impact was observed against those cancers which caused severe symptoms.
First, we extracted and measured the glucosinolate levels found in broccoli sprouts before employing an enzyme-driven transformation process to convert these glucosinolates to isothiocyanates. Although young sprouts typically possess higher phytochemical concentrations compared with fully mature broccoli spears, both provide health benefits when consumed regularly.
Researchers treated one mouse cell line and two human bladder cancer cell lines with various amounts of isothiocyanates and glucosinolates; though these compounds convert to isothiocyanates over time, the researchers were curious as to if glucosinolates had any impact on inhibiting cancer cell growth.
Although glucosinolates had no discernible impact, isothiocyanates significantly decreased growth across all three cell lines, most significantly those belonging to human invasive transitional cell carcinoma; its most aggressive subtype.
Broccoli and tomatoes combined are more effective at combatting prostate cancer mes A recent study has demonstrated that including both broccoli and tomatoes into your daily diet together can significantly increase its effectiveness at shrinking prostate tumors than eating either one separately.
Broccoli and tomatoes may have an additive effect when consumed together, likely due to different bioactive compounds present in each veggie working on different anti-cancer pathways.
Implanted prostate cancer cell lab rats were fed a diet consisting of 10% broccoli powder and 10% tomato powder as whole food powder supplements, to see the impact of taking these whole vegetables rather than individual parts as supplements.
Lab rats in another group were given either broccoli or tomato powder alone; or given either lycopene supplements from tomato red pigment considered effective against cancer prevention; or taken finasteride which is prescribed to treat enlarged prostates. An additional group were castrated.
The broccoli/tomato combo outperformed all other diets for shrinking prostate tumors in rats. Tumor biopsies showed that tumor cells weren’t growing as rapidly in these rats fed broccoli/tomato. Castration was the only other treatment that came close to matching its level of efficacy.
Men should consume 1.4 cups of raw broccoli daily and 2.5 cups of fresh tomatoes (or 1/2 cup of tomato paste or 1 cup of tomato sauce), to get these effects; cooked tomatoes could provide additional benefits; their bioavailability can also be increased through cutting and heating processes.
Broccoli may help smokers lower their lung cancer risks, according to another study. Broccoli’s cancer-preventive properties appear particularly helpful for smokers.
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli have long been established to be protective against cancer; this comprehensive study demonstrated their protective benefits specifically for smokers – specifically former smokers who quit. People who stop smoking will gain even greater advantage from eating more cruciferous vegetables.
Researchers conducted a case-controlled study with hospitalized lung cancer patients and their smoking status-matched controls, looking at all cruciferous vegetables typically eaten raw versus cooked as well as accounting for smoking status, intensity and duration using statistical calculations.
Consumption of cruciferous vegetables could decrease smoking risks by as much as 55% depending on the kind of vegetable eaten and duration and intensity of smoking habits.
As one example, consumption of raw cruciferous vegetables was linked with lower lung cancer risks among current smokers; no significant results were noted from consumption of other vegetables and fruits.
Compounds found in broccoli may help to protect against colon cancer mes Research shows that compounds produced by Brassica vegetables like broccoli may help in maintaining a healthy gut and warding off colon cancer. A study demonstrated this by showing how mice fed an indole-3-carbinol-rich diet from digesting broccoli and other Brassica veggies were protected against inflammation of their gut and colon cancer.
Though the benefits of vegetables are well-documented, their mechanisms remain unknown. This research provides evidence of how adding indole-3-carbinol to our diets may help prevent inflammation and colon cancer through activating an aryl hydrocarbon receptor protein.
The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor serves as an environmental sensor, relaying signals between epithelial cells and immune cells in the gut lining to protect against inflammation caused by various strains of bacteria present.
Genetically modified mice that cannot produce or activate an aryl hydrocarbon receptor were examined, and it was discovered that they rapidly developed inflammation of their gut which then progressed to colon cancer. When fed an indole-3-carbinol enriched diet instead, however, they did not show inflammation or cancer development; when mice with already developing cancer switched over, their tumors significantly diminished while remaining more benign.
Investigating mice and their intestinal stem cells revealed that the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (ARH) plays an essential role in repairing damaged epithelial cells. Without it, intestinal stem cells would not be able to differentiate into nutrient-absorbing epithelial cells or produce protective mucus; rather they would proliferate uncontrollably which may ultimately lead to colon cancer.
