1. Broccoli Can Help Prevent and Protect from Cancer
Research has discovered that when green vegetables such as broccoli are digested, certain chemicals produced can suppress prostate cancer cell growth.1
Results indicate that 3,3′-diindolylmethane produced when eating cruciferous vegetables acts as an effective antiandrogen to inhibit prostate cancer cell proliferation in culture tests.
Vegetables such as cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts and broccoli are an excellent source of indole-3-carbinol, which when digested by our bodies is converted to diindolylmethane.
Androgen plays an essential role in the normal functioning and development of the prostate gland, but also plays an integral part in early prostate cancer diagnosis that must be treated using anti-androgen medications.
In most prostate cancer cases, cancer cells eventually become androgen resistant and begin to thrive independently of this hormone in its later stages.
Researchers conducted various tests comparing the effects of diindolylmethane on androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells as well as those that are androgen independent.
They discovered that androgen-dependent cancer cells treated with diindolylmethane solutions grew 70% less, as compared to their counterparts left untreated, suggesting androgen inhibition is likely the main mechanism at work behind its effectiveness. No noticeable effect was noted on androgen-independent cell growth when using this same solution; no such results were found with androgen inhibition alone being sufficient to take effect.
Broccoli for Liver Cancer
According to recent research, broccoli consumption could provide protection from liver cancer as well as help prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease which contributes to liver malfunction and increases mortality risk associated with Hepatocellular Carcinoma2.2
Researchers were particularly keen on understanding how broccoli affected liver cancerous tumors; however, they also wanted to assess its impact on overall liver health by monitoring how it was processing lipids from a high-fat diet.
Results revealed an increase in both size and number of cancer nodules found in livers fed Westernized diet mice; however, when broccoli was included as part of their daily routine diet plan this number decreased considerably.
Lipid globules form on the liver in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and these were detected in Westernized diet mice livers.
