Broccoli For Cancer Prevention

It has been often argued that the vegetable, broccoli, is anything but a healthy food that can be eaten. Broccoli belongs to the family of cruciferous vegetables that also includes cabbage and cauliflower. The cultivation of this vegetable began in the 16thcentury, in Italy, and it was named after brachium, a Latin word, meaning arm or branch. Vast information about the dietary programs can be obtained here . Broccoli is believed to be one of the most potent vegetables in the cruciferous family that has potential health benefits and provides complete nutrition needed for healthy living. It is placed with many vital chemicals that help in sustaining the body like anti-inflammatory nutrients, anti-cancer nutrients, detox-support nutrients and antioxidant nutrients. It is usually eaten raw or steamed for about 5 minutes. It can be served with meats, pasta or rice, or simply eaten as a salad ingredient. Nutrisystem.com offers detailed information on broccoli and its health benefits.

Broccoli is mainly known for its anti-cancer properties. It is a powerful veggie that can lower the risks of developing some types of cancers. Broccoli contains indole-3-carbinol, a chemical compound that aids DNA repair in the damaged cells and reduces the development of some cancerous tumors.

Broccoli also contains glucoraphanin, a typical substance that can process into anti-cancer compounds known as sulforaphane this compound can kill bacteria inside the body.

According to recent studies, the anti-cancer compound of broccoli can be further increased when it is paired with different spicy foods containing the enzyme, myrosinase, like wasabi, mustard or horseradish.