Eat Your Broccoli: A Delicious Way to Prevent Breast Cancer

Broccoli and Breast Cancer

Eat your broccoli. I don’t care if you like it, it’s good for you. How often did we hear that growing up? And how many mothers have been passing the same wisdom down, generation after generation? 

Well, it turns out that broccoli is very good for you. 

Just how good, we may never have suspected, especially where breast cancer is concerned.

About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer affects 1 in every 8 women. This year, in the United States alone, we expect to see over 230,000 new cases and over 40,000 deaths from invasive breast cancer.

Sulforaphane and Cancer Cells

Recent studies at the University of Michigan show that a compound called sulforaphane can affect cancer cells in mice and in human cancerous tissue. Sulforaphane is a natural component of broccoli, broccoli sprouts, and the whole brassica family, including cauliflower, collard greens, mustard greens, and cabbage.

How does it work? First we need to understand a bit how cancers are formed within the body. Cancer is something we live with all the time. As our body repairs itself, cell by cell, occasionally a cell will be reproduced with a flaw in it. Mistakes happen, mistakes get corrected. Each cell has interior mechanisms for self-correction, or if the damage is too extensive, a “suicide switch” which is thrown if all the components of the cell don’t measure up to functional standards. The dead cells are flushed out of the body easily and quietly, unknown to us.

However, when that “suicide” (or, apoptosis, in biology terms) mechanism goes awry, the cells continue to divide, taking up valuable resources needed by neighboring healthy cells. Then it’s a cancer.

That’s what makes the study of sulforaphanes so compelling. They actually act to turn on the immune system, reactivating the body’s natural defense mechanism to cancer, apoptosis, or cellular death of the existing cancer cells. This compound also acts to irritate the remaining cells just enough to turn on the cell’s own anti-oxidant systems, literally turning on tumor-suppressing genes in the cells’ DNA.

What does this mean to you?

If you already have cancer, you will want an aggressive, multi-disciplined approach. However, the earlier you start, the better, and prevention is always the best way to approach any disease. This may mean a change in diet.

Most people should eat one item from the brassica family each day. It not only increases cellular health, but also turns up liver detoxification. With fewer toxins in your body, there are fewer cancer-causing agents to defend against.

If you have a family background of cancer, or have small, non-malignant tumors, talk to your healthcare practitioner about daily supplements of broccoli seed extract. Not all healthcare practitioners are schooled in the benefits of sulforaphanes, or even know about broccoli seed extract as a supplement, so you may want to seek out a Naturopathic Doctor. NDs are trained to look to nature for safe remedies. Broccoli seed extract is good insurance and certainly causes the body no harm.

Whether a small shift in lifestyle or an overhaul of your diet and environment, take the best steps towards your well-being, and take them soon. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women, after lung cancer, and it doesn’t have to be.

Five steps you can take to lower your inherent risk of cancer:

1) Stop smoking. It increases the risk of many types of cancer, not just lung cancer.

2) Don’t eat sugar. Eliminate food high in sugar and refined carbohydrates from your diet.

3) Exercise. The research shows over and over again that people who exercise have fewer incidences of cancer.

4) Reduce toxins. Wherever possible, reduce your exposure to environmental toxins, on the job, at home, and in your food.

5) Eat your veggies, especially broccoli.

The best way to beat cancer? Never give it the smallest foothold in your body.

Recipe for yummy brassicas adapted from Cynthia Lair’s cookbook, Feeding the Whole Family

8 cups of one or more of the following: Broccoli, Collard Greens, Kale or Mustard Greens.

1 tsp brown rice syrup

1-2 tsp rice vinegar

1 tsp toasted sesame oil

1 tsp hot pepper oil

2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Trim tough stems from greens and wash thoroughly. Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil and submerge the greens. Boil greens for 5-10 minutes. Timing is everything, greens removed too soon will be bitter, greens removed too late will have flat, nutrient and flavor devoid taste. Remove a piece and test every minute or so. You are looking for a slightly wilted leaf that still has a bright green color and succulent, sweet flavor. Pour the cooked greens into a colander in the sink. Let cool and squeeze excess water with your hands. Chop into bite-sized pieces and place in serving bowl.

In a small bowl mix syrup, vinegar and oils together. Pour dressing over greens, add seeds and toss well. Serve warm, cold or room temperature. Makes 4 servings. Delicious!

Try this supplement for all the benefits of sulforaphanes:

Vis Naturae Onco-Vis: A natural, long-lasting antioxidant and detoxifier found in broccoli and broccoli sprouts.