Eat Your Broccoli

There was an interesting abstract in the 2008 issue of Cancer Prevention Research about a new study dealing with Broccoli. Greg Arnold a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Danville, CA commented on the possible health benefits of an antioxidant found in vegetables that may keep lungs healthy.

Many vegetables that contain health benefits, and some of the best are called cruciferous vegetables. These include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, turnip, and radish. What sets them apart in promoting health are antioxidants called indoles .

An antioxidant in broccoli called sulfurophane has been shown to benefit prostate health and blood vessels in diabetics, but another antioxidant called Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) has been found to benefit overall cell health, infant health, detoxification, bladder health, and heart health.

Recently a new study has found that I3C may help keep lungs healthy. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. In the US, 215,020 new cases and 161,840 deaths were estimated in 2008, which accounts for 15% of cancer diagnoses and 29% of all cancer deaths. Cigarette smoke, which contains more than 60 carcinogens, is the cause of 90% of lung cancer cases.

Two of the most potent carcinogens in cigarettes are NNK and BaP. In the study, mice were fed a diet consisting of doses of I3C in varying amounts, or a placebo for one week. During this time, they were exposed to the NNK and BaP carcinogens.

Compared to the placebo group, those in the I3C group had less tumor growth. The lowest effective dose they used was equal to 800 mg per day of I3C in humans.

This led the researchers to say the results indicate the potential of I3C for lung cancer chemoprevention in current and former smokers.

Of course it is too soon to say with certainty that when your mom told you to eat your Broccoli because it’s good for you, that she could see into the future, but it sounds good.