Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower: The Vegetables That May Prevent Cancer

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 2-8-2006 | Ian Sample

[blam]

Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower: the vegetables that may prevent cancer

· Foods contain chemicals that help repair DNA
· Study backs link between diet and disease

Ian Sample, science correspondent
Wednesday February 8, 2006
The Guardian (UK)

Natural chemicals found in soya beans and vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower boost the body's ability to repair damaged DNA and may prevent cells turning cancerous, scientists said yesterday. Studies have suggested that eating vegetables appears to provide some protection against certain cancers, but until now the reason why has been a mystery.

Researchers at Georgetown University in Washington DC believe the answer lies with two naturally occurring compounds. The first, indole-3-carbinol or I3C is abundant in vegetables including broccoli and cabbage, while the second, genistein, occurs naturally in soya beans.

The researchers found that when the chemicals were added to cells they boosted the activity of two genes, known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, both of which play a crucial role in detecting damaged DNA and marshalling a cell's response to fix it. Mutations in either of these genes often lead to breast, ovarian and prostate cancer because they are unable to prevent damaged DNA being passed on to the next generation of cells.

Writing in the British Journal of Cancer, the researchers said that since very low levels of BRCA proteins are seen in cancerous cells, higher levels might prevent cancer developing.

"We know that one of the functions of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes is to maintain genomic integrity, and to do that, they first have to be able to detect DNA damage and signal to the cell that it is there, and then become involved in repairing it," said Eliot Rosen, the lead author of the study.

[blam]

"Damn near died of cancer in '89... "

Well, you didn't die. Maybe the food was the edge, eh?

[FOG724]

They have Vitamin K. It fights the blood thinner.

[blam]

"LOL, my sister insisted that we start juicing carrots and the juice tastes great. "

Be careful with the carrot juice. I read about a health nut in Florida who drank so much carrot juice the he got cirossis of the liver and died.

[FOG724]

http://www.drugs.com/coumadin.html

Avoid sudden changes in your diet. Vitamin K decreases the effects of Coumadin. Large amounts of vitamin K are found in foods such as liver, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and green leafy vegetables (e.g., spinach, Swiss chard, coriander, collards, cabbage). Do not change the amount of these foods in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

[EveningStar]

Awwwe! :)

[djf]

These are the so called "cruciferous" vegetables.

"Cruciferous" means "can't afford lobster tonight".

[blam]

"The Koreans say that sauerkraut can head off bird flu "

Read this:

Bird Flu May Over-Stimulate Immune System

[binkdeville]

I'm sick of the whole deal with food , health and cancer. Every year they contridict what they said the year before ..they DONT KNOW..PERIOD

[neverdem]

thanx bfl

[SuziQ]

Talk about greenhouse gasses!

Or as the Brits say, "MEE-thane"

[blam]

Thanks. Fortunatly I don't take Coumadin.

[FOG724]

I take it till the end of the month. I was in the hospital over Thanksgiving with a blood clot in my leg. Too many hours in front of the computer. I'm going to buy another chair as soon as I can, plus use a little foot stool to elevate my leg off of the chair.

[tiki]

I only drink it occasionally but back when I was about 20 we grew some carrots and they were the best carrots I'd ever tasted. I ate so many I turned yellow.

[Drango]

Please joing other FReepers fighting cancer here :

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1572512/posts?page=131#131

[tiki]

Butter or Ranch dressing.

[okie01]

Well, you didn't die. Maybe the food was the edge, eh?

Couldda been, couldda been.

And, taking no chances, we had field peas with ham hock, turnip greens with diced turnips and cornbread for supper tonight...

[Dionysius]

Thanks. Sauerkraut over HN51 works for me!

[Reeses]

All five of these vegetables were derived from a wild cabbage plant in England.

If they are derived they are not natural plants but man made food. These plants have a chemical that mimics estrogen, a female hormone. Is it entirely safe for men to pump up their estrogen levels over extended periods? What about growing boys? They often have a natural strong dislike for these foods. Do we really know what this extra estrogen does to their forming minds and bodies? Should boys trust their natural intuitions? Or is it that nancy boys are better behaved?

[Dad yer funny]

hey FReeper FRiend, I use the Samson GB-9001 juicer

... it is NOT a centrifugal, so the juice is still quite good into the next day

... if more folks knew how easy and economical juicing is,they'd do it

... juicing has a stigma as a "hippie thing" and being a big hassle , it is not,...feel FRee to pick my brain

...oh,btw , I make really delicious juice

[blam]

"And, taking no chances, we had field peas with ham hock, turnip greens with diced turnips and cornbread for supper tonight..."

I had cabbage, mixed vegetables, butter beans and jalapeno corn bread with 1% milk. For lunch, I had Chinese beef & Broccli an egg roll and 1% milk.