Al-Huda
Foundation, NJ U. S. A
the Message Continues ... 7/118
Newsletter for June 2011
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Combating Prostate Cancer with Cruciferous Vegetables
A promising all-natural solution fights prostate cancer while
you chew. It's a phytochemical created when you chew raw
broccoli and other cruciferous plants. It inhibits the growth of
prostate cancer cells. And, unlike chemotherapy and radiation,
it doesn't damage healthy cells.
That's according to Dr. Emily Ho. She is principal investigator
at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. She's
also Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences.
She's an expert on the relationship between diet and the
development of prostate cancer. And her research has been
published in several professional journals.
Dr. Ho has been studying the phytochemical for about five years.
She recently released the results of a two-year study that
looked at how it affects prostate cancer cells. The results
appeared in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research.
Evidence That Cancer Is Reversible
When Dr. Ho's team applied the phytochemical to prostate cancer
tissue, they found that it was very selective. It targeted only
the prostate cancer cells. Other studies have shown that the
phytochemical is also effective against colon and breast
cancers.
Dr. Ho says more research has to be done to see how this works
in the human body. But she believes that there is hope for safer
cancer treatments.
Still, she cautions, "Just because a phytochemical or nutrient
is found in food doesn't always mean it's safe, and a lot can
also depend on the form or levels consumed. But this does appear
to be a phytochemical that can selectively kill cancer cells,
and that's always what you look for in cancer therapies."
The Phytochemical Revealed
So what's the phytochemical we're talking about here? It's "sulforaphane."
It's in a family of disease-fighting compounds called
isothiocyanates.
Sulforaphane is produced when you chew raw cruciferous
vegetables. The chewing releases an enzyme in the plant's cells
called "myrosinase." It also releases a compound called "glucoraphanin."
When the two combine, a chemical reaction produces sulforaphane.
So by adding more raw crucifers to your diet, you could help
protect yourself against cancer.
Go Green
To combat prostate cancer, Dr. Ho recommends 5 to 9 servings of
vegetables a day. Some of those should be crucifers. That
includes Brussels sprouts and cabbage, as well as broccoli. But
the best source of sulforaphane, says Dr. Ho, is broccoli
sprouts. In fact, she says, a cup of sprouts could yield the
same amount of sulforaphane as 20 cups of full-grown broccoli.
Eat the vegetables raw, not cooked. Heat kills the enzyme that
helps create the sulforaphane. And keep in mind that
sulforaphane is an unstable compound. After about 30 minutes, it
starts to degrade.
You can also get sulforaphane in broccoli juice, or as a powder
that you mix with water.
Supplements are available, too. But Dr. Ho says they aren't as
effective.
Consuming sulforaphane isn't the only way to protect yourself
from prostate cancer. Our research team has prepared an in-depth
health directive report packed with 15 proven cancer prevention
tools. You can find out more right here.
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