How eating Broccoli could combat against skin cancer

Health benefits of eating Broccoli

Before we find the new research on eating Broccoli could combat against skin cancer here are many health benefits of eating broccoli.

 

Many Health benefits of eating Broccoli

Studies have shown that even kids like broccoli and one way to ensure that they enjoy it is to cook it properly by using our Healthy Steaming method. Overcooked broccoli becomes soft and mushy, an indication that it has lost both nutrients and flavor. Begin by cutting broccoli florets into quarters and let sit for several minutes before cooking to enhance its health-promoting benefits

Cholesterol-lowering

Broccoli can provide you with some special cholesterol-lowering benefits if you will cook it by steaming. The fiber-related components in broccoli do a better job of binding together with bile acids in your digestive tract when they've been steamed. When this binding process takes place, it's easier for bile acids to be excreted, and the result is a lowering of your cholesterol levels. Raw broccoli still has cholesterol-lowering ability—just not as much.

Body detoxification

Broccoli has a strong, positive impact on our body's detoxification system, and researchers have recently identified one of the key reasons for this detox benefit. Glucoraphanin, gluconasturtiian, and glucobrassicin are 3 glucosinolate phytonutrients found in a special combination in broccoli. This dynamic trio is able to support all steps in body's detox process, including activation, neutralization, and elimination of unwanted contaminants. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are the detox-regulating molecules made from broccoli's glucosinolates, and they help control the detox process at a genetic level.

Vitamin D source

Broccoli may help us solve our vitamin D deficiency epidemic. When large supplemental doses of vitamin D are needed to offset deficiency, ample supplies of vitamin K and vitamin A help keep our vitamin D metabolism in balance. Broccoli has an unusually strong combination of both vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene) and vitamin K. For people faced with the need to rebuild vitamin D stores through vitamin D supplements, broccoli may be an ideal food to include in the diet.

Anti-inflammatory

Broccoli is a particularly rich source of a flavonoid called kaempferol. Recent research has shown the ability of kaempferol to lessen the impact of allergy-related substances on our body. This kaempferol connection helps to explain the unique anti-inflammatory benefits of broccoli, and it should also open the door to future research on the benefits of broccoli for a hypoallergenic diet.

New research-Broccoli could be 'sunscreen against skin cancer'

There are numerous studies that suggest eating vegetables can provide certain health benefits. Now researchers say that broccoli may help to combat skin cancer, not by eating it, but by applying it directly to the skin. Sally Dickinson, research assistant professor in the Pharmacology Department at the University of Arizona Cancer Center, has teamed up with researchers from John Hopkins University to determine how sulforaphane - a compound found in broccoli - could help prevent the skin disease. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common of all cancer in the US. More than 3.5 million cases of the disease are diagnosed in the country every year.

Over-exposure to sunlight is said to be one of the main causes of skin cancer, particularly malignant melanomas - the most aggressive form of skin cancer. Dr. Dickinson says that although there is heightened awareness about the need for reduced sun exposure and use of sunscreens, there are still far too many cases of skin cancer every year."We're searching for better methods to prevent skin cancer in formats that are affordable and manageable for public use. Sulforaphane may be an excellent candidate for use in the prevention of skin cancer caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays."Dr. Dickinson began researching the chemopreventive properties of broccoli in 2005. Since then, her research has shown that sulforaphane is highly effective at inhibiting cancer-causing pathways - such as the AP-1 protein - and at triggering chemoprotective genes - such as the Nrf2 gene. In their upcoming pilot study with John Hopkins University, the research team is looking to test a "topical broccoli sprout solution" on the skin of a group of patients, in order to determine if the solution is effective when the skin is exposed to artificial light.

The solution has been shown to be safe for both topical and oral administration in previous studies, Dr. Dickinson says.  She adds that if the compound is proved to be successful, sulforaphane could be could be used for other applications. "Sulforaphane is the kind of compound that has so many incredible theoretical applications if the dosage is measured properly," she says. "We already know that it is very effective in blocking sunburns, and we have seen cases where it can induce protective enzymes in the skin." The team is conducting this study in the hope that patients with weaker immune systems may be able to apply the sulforaphane solution to their skin to reduce their risk of skin cancer. Medical News Today also reported on a study from the University of East Anglia in the UK that suggested eating broccoli may help prevent osteoarthritis. A study from the University of Michigan in 2010 suggested that the sulforaphane compound may also be effective for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.