From Joseph Mercola, DO
Cruciferous vegetables have long been cherished for their health benefits. Broccoli, cabbage, collards, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale and bok choy, just to name a few, contain several plant compounds that are important for optimal health, including powerful chemoprotective compounds.
One of the most well-known of these is sulforaphane, an organic sulfur. Studies have shown sulforaphane supports normal cell function and division while causing apoptosis (programmed cell death) in colon, liver, prostate, breast and tobacco-induced lung cancer. Just three servings of broccoli per week may reduce a man’s risk of prostate cancer by more than 60%.
Another important phytochemical found in cruciferous veggies is indole-3 carbinol (I3C), which in your gut is converted into diindolylmethane (DIM). DIM in turn boosts immune function and, like sulforaphane, plays a role in the prevention and treatment of cancer.
