Brassicaceae vegetables aka Cruciferous Vegetables have been known for their amazing health benefits for centuries: “If a cancerous ulcer appears upon the breasts, apply a crushed cabbage leaf and it will make it well.” Cato the Elder (Rome: 234‐149 BC) [first recorded description of these plants as Brassica = cabbage.
However, in more recent time there has been significant research done on these amazing vegetables, specifically broccoli and the results will make even the biggest broccoli adversary and new fan. There is an abundance of research demonstrating things such as: anti-cancer benefits as well as direct effects on human cancer cells…even after initiation of carcinogens. There have been over 400 hundred studies demonstrating its benefits on breast, prostate, colon and lung cancers. Here a quote from the Journal of Nutrition 2005 “These results suggest that the edible part of Brassica oleracea contains substances that can markedly inhibit the growth of both ER+ and ER- human breast cancer cells.
Importantly, we are not just seeing these benefits in rats. Another study in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention stated; “This is the first study to provide direct evidence that broccoli sprouts can enhance the body’s detoxifying system to help prevent cancer. Although previous laboratory studies indicated this was true, this is the first time that a direct observation of this effect in humans was possible”. (200 adults)
There is also abundant research on a multitude of other benefits such as: anti-inflammatory - protecting the skin, lung, repairing GI mucosa ,lowering blood pressure; anti-oxidant- preventing LDL oxidation, preventing dopamine oxidation (anti Parkinson’s) and others; enhanced detoxification; even anti-microbial against H-pylori! Here as a quote from an abstract presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Meeting in Baltimore, MD 2005 “Dietary Intake of Sulforaphane-Rich Broccoli Sprouts Improves Gastritis in H.pylori-Infected Human Subjects”.
The mechanism of how this all works is a bit confusing and probably not completed understood yet, but I will try to explain it as best I can. The Brassicaceae family of vegetables contains an aromatic metabolite called Glucosinolates. When digested, these are hydrolyzed into several metabolically active compounds, but one very important is isothiocyanates. It is the isothiocyanates that give this class of vegetable their bitter taste and were at one time considered toxic anti-nutrients but are now considered the primary anti-cancer molecules in cruciferous vegetables. There are several types of isothiocyanates with known biological activity; one of the most extensively studied is Sulforaphane. Sulforaphane was discovered at John Hopkins in 1992 and there are 400+ scientific studies published on it. John Hopkins actually holds the patent to broccoli sprouts which are one of the riches concentrated sources of Sulforaphane.
Regardless, the conclusion to this and hundreds of other studies is Cruciferous vegetables offer a scientifically valid approach to: detoxification, cancer prevention and possibly treatment, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, and blood pressure lowering.
For those of you that don’t like vegetables, there are whole food/super green supplements available, we have one at the office and it is actually pretty good. It tastes like apple cinnamon when mixed in water but there are recipes for smoothies and shakes and such.
Best wishes,
Stefanie RN, FNP-S, MEP-C
Stefanie Maass
RN, BSN, FNPs
