Like Eating Broccoli? Better Eat Broccoli Sprouts

It has already been said that phytochemicals from cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and the likes have strong anti-cancer properties. Even pregnant women by eating these veggies will help protect their unborn children from developing cancer later in their adult life.

However, it seems like new wonders in broccoli keep getting discovered, probably to give us another reason to eat our vegetables and hopefully to convince our children to love eating them too.

Personally, I do love broccolis (and cauliflowers too!). Unfortunately, they aren’t always available in markets where I live. But on few occasions that they are, I make sure we get some even if in our household, broccolis and cauliflowers (like most vegetables) only “sell” to me and my mother. Our other household members (two teeners and a 4-year old) don’t like them veggies that much.

So we know already know that broccoli and the likes have strong anti-cancer agents that will help us be protected from various cancers.

Now, it has been found that another compound called sulforaphane are found in these cruciferous veggies and yes, the compound has anti-cancer properties.

But broccoli sprouts contain more of sulforaphane, according to researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.

The tiny, thread-like broccoli sprouts sold at stores next to alfalfa sprouts have more than 50 times the amount of sulforaphane than found in mature broccoli.

Emily Ho, a researcher with the Linus Pauling Institute and an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences at OSU even claimed that same effects of inhibiting HDAC might be obtained by consumption of cruciferous vegetables.

[drugs classified as histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are being looked at as potentially preventing cancer]

According to Dr. Ho:

“I would say if you’re at all worried about cancer or at high risk of cancer, especially of prostate or colon cancer, then increasing your dietary intake of broccoli and other vegetables could be a good idea.

It certainly can’t hurt. And drugs can have negative side effects and be difficult to administer

The compound in broccoli may be one of the strongest anti-cancer fighters we have.”

The new study findings by Dr. Ho and her team have been published in the Journal of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine.

Going back to cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy and brussels sprouts…lucky you if they’re always available in your market. So go get them and eat them too…always.

Read the full report from Oregon State University.