Broccoli Sprouts For Cancer Treatment

Cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth. It can develop in any part of your body. These abnormal cells reproduce rapidly and destroy healthy tissues. However, the process of developing cancer may take several years to complete. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli sprouts are rich in cancer-fighting compounds, and modern scientific evidence supports these claims. Before you decide to add broccoli sprouts to your diet, you should consult with your doctor or registered dietitian for specific diet advice.

Apoptosis

Scientists at Rutgers may have discovered why eating broccoli sprouts seems to reduce the risk of developing cancer. Broccoli sprouts contain a cancer chemopreventive constituent called phenethyl isothiocyanate, or PEITC, which helps your body get rid of cancer cells through apoptosis, a controlled cellular mechanism resulting in cell death, says Ah-Ng Tony Kong, a professor of pharmaceutics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Prostate Cancer

The risk of prostate cancer -- the most common cancer in males in the United States -- may be reduced by consuming more than one serving per week of broccoli sprouts, notes the Cancer Care Ontario. Prostate cancers are hormone-dependent, indicating that these cancers can be maintained or stimulated by the male hormone androgen. The anti-cancer compounds in broccoli sprouts lower androgen levels, thus causing tumors to shrink or slow their growth.

Cervical Cancer

High consumption of sulforaphane-rich foods such as broccoli sprouts is associated with a lower risk of cervical cancer in epidemiological studies, notes "The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods." Broccoli sprouts induces phase 2 enzymes that can detoxify harmful toxins and carcinogens such as hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals, thus protecting tissues against carcinogenesis.

Stomach Cancer

Eating foods rich in sulforaphane such as broccoli sprouts is recommended to decrease the risk of developing stomach cancer. However, more research is needed before a definite recommendation on sulforaphane consumption can be made. This substance kills Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium that causes stomach ulcers and even cancer, investigators from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine report.