(Video) Cabbage is a superfood and can assist in preventing cancer

http://youtu.be/3AME5wYfSPQ

Cabbage is part of the cruciferous family of vegetables named because of the cross (crucifix) shaped flowers. Medical researchers have found that the phytochemicals in cabbage known as indoles inhibit the growth of colon, stomach and breast cancer. On the down side, excessive amounts of cabbage in the diet may lead to problems with the thyroid gland. Cabbage prepared in coleslaw has significant amounts of iron, vitamin C, potassium and calcium.

Cancer Prevention: Eat Your Cabbage?

Can eating your broccoli and cabbage help protect you against lung cancer? According to a study published in the October 29, 2005 issue of the British medical journal, Lancet, the answer is yes.

Cruciferous vegetables have been found in various studies to be cancer inhibitors but the above study was one of the largest relating to lung cancer.

This study, conducted by a group of researchers at the Genetic Epidemiology Group at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, compared 2,141 people diagnosed with lungcancer with a group of healthy people in the Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. They chose countries where the consumption of vegetables like cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts has been traditionally high.

“We found protective effects with at least weekly consumption of cruciferous vegetables,” the research letter in the Lancet stated.

Researchers believe that the beneficial effects of cruciferous vegetables are due to the high content of isothiocyanates, phytonutrients that seem to have a strong anti-cancer effect. They are a more bioavailable form of glucosinolates, which also have been shown to have anti-cancer effects. The research conducted at Lyons takes the knowledge a step further.

Studies have shown that isothiocyanates neutralize cancerous cells by inhibiting cell proliferation. The cycle of a normal cell in the body proceeds from cell division, through specialization, and eventually, when the cell has either become damaged or has finished doing its job, to apoptosis – or cell death. The problem with cancer cells is that they don’t go through apoptosis. For some reason, their mutations make them resistant to the message that it’s time to die. Isothiocyanates appear to be a catalyst that triggers apoptosis. In laboratory experiments, they’ve induced apoptosis in a number of cell lines. They also seem to slow proliferation of a number of types of cancercells, including lung cancer lines.
The researchers at Lyons found that there is also a correlation between genetics and the preventive effect of cruciferous vegetables. There are two genes that produce an enzyme that remove isothiocyanates from the body. The Lyons study correlated the results from a diet questionnaire with blood tests to determine whether those studied had inactive or active forms of those genes. They found that in people who had an inactive form of one of the two genes had a 37% lower risk of developing lung cancer. Those with an inactive form of the other had a 33% lower risk of developing lung cancer. In those with both genes inactive, there was a 72% reduction in lung cancer risk. In those who had two active gene types, there was no difference in risk at all.

Important Facts in Cabbage

• Half a pound of cabbage yields all the recommended daily allowances forvitamins C and E.
• Other vitamins in the vegetable are A, B1, B2, B6, K and folic acid.
• Mineral content includes calcium, sulfur, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium.
• It also contains trace amounts of iron, copper, manganese, selenium and zinc. Cabbage also contains antioxidants and fiber. It has several beneficial effects when integrated in the diet.
• Prolonged cooking destroy much of the vitamins and minerals.
• Rich source of antioxidants.
• Assists digestion with the fiber content.
• Can be used crushed to alleviate inflammations
• And of course, anti cancer properties as discussed earlier.

See the recipe for Cabbage Lasagna HERE

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Liliana

Successful dieter who loves to eat and will prove the HCG Diet is the diet to end them all! Wife, Accountant and Internet Marketer 🙂

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