Studies show you can lower your cancer risk simply by eating more cruciferous vegetables, the most common of which are broccoli, cauliflower, arugula, Brussel sprouts, kale, and cabbage. Eating more of this veggie family is also associated with better survival rates in people who’ ve already been diagnosed with cancer. This powerful protection is because these vegetables contain unique plant chemicals that fight cancer at nearly every stage of its development.
7 Ways These Veggies Fight Cancer
These cruciferous vegetables fight cancer at nearly every stage of cancer growth, which explains why they have activity against so many different types of cancer. Here are the top 7 ways they combat cancer.
1. They stop cancer growth.
The chemicals in these veggies STOP the cell cycle, which prevents tumour cells from growing and multiplying. They also BLOCK the formation of new blood vessels in tumors, starving them of the oxygen and nutrients they need to grow and thrive.
2. They cause cancer cells to kill themselves.
Cells have a built-in safety mechanism called apoptosis that allows them to die off if they become damaged. Cancer cells thrive because they’ve found a way to turn OFF apoptosis. These veggies kill off cancer cells by switching apoptosis back ON.
3. They turn OFF switches related to cancer development.
Like the apoptosis switch, your genes have switches that can be turned on or off. These are called epigenetic changes. These veggies help turn OFF key epigenetic changes related to cancer development.
4. They turn ON switches that protect cells.
One of the chemicals, Sulforaphane, has been shown to boost a master transcription pathway for antioxidants in connection with cancer development. When this pathway is activated, it turns ON genes that protect cells from injury.
5. They reduce inflammation.
These veggies deactivate nuclear factor-kappa beta (NfKb), a protein that promotes chronic inflammation.
6. They boost detoxification.
One important way of preventing cancer is to rid your body of toxic compounds. Sulforaphane reduces carcinogens by improving both phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification processes. This is one of the main reasons cruciferous vegetables protect against so many types of cancer.
7. They induce autophagy
Sulforaphane also induces autophagy, which is your body’s way of taking out the trash. It’s how your body cleans out damaged cells to make way for healthy, new ones.
For those of you who would like to take a deeper dive, this is a great read:
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