Broccoli: the New Wonder Cure for Cancer?

by Christina 123 | July 22, 2008 at 05:08 pm | 853 views | 23 comments

We have heard about the miracles of antioxidants, merlot sediments, garlic, yoghurt. New wonder food in the British press recently has been broccoli.

When they diagnosed him with bladder cancer five years ago, oncologists told Ray Wiseman, a 79-year-old grandfather from Leicestershire, that the disease would probably kill him. Scans now show that his cancer has stopped spreading. Wiseman puts this down to the broccoli juice his wife Joan has whizzed up for him every morning since his diagnosis. Could she be on to something?

The Wisemans claim that Cancer Research has asked for the recipe so it can investigate further. A spokeswoman at the head office of Cancer Research UK knows nothing about such a request, but does admit that broccoli is intriguing for cancer scientists because of the chemicals it contains.

Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and cabbage contain a group of phytochemicals that seem to have cancer-preventing properties. One recent study found that these substances could enhance DNA repair in cells. Another found that men who ate one daily portion of broccoli had altered patterns of gene activity in their prostates. However, it was a small study and more research is needed before anyone can say that eating broccoli lowers your chances of prostate cancer.

Singling out broccoli as an anti-cancer superfood is therefore meaningless. Cancer Research UK advises that broccoli should be eaten as part of a healthy diet, since studies show clearly that eating a diet rich in fibre, fruit and vegetables can lower the risk of developing many forms of cancer.

Wiseman is among 10,000 people diagnosed with bladder cancer every year in the UK. If, as a nation, we all ate green smoothies for breakfast these numbers might well come down. But since the biggest preventable cause of bladder cancer is smoking - which causes around two in three cases in men and one in three cases in women - there are probably more straightforward places to start.
About this articleClose This article appeared in the Guardian on Tuesday July 22 2008 on p3 of the Comment & features section. It was last updated at 08:54 on July 22 2008.

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akfarmersmarket

at 12:16 on July 23rd, 2008

Whatever the health benefits of broccoli, our Alaskan broccoli (pictured) is worth eating for the taste alone! It's sweet and tender because of our long daylight hours and cool nights--and it's thousands of miles fresher when we buy it locally at our farmers' markets here in Anchorage! How great if it's even healthier than we've always known!

Want some good ideas for how to cook up your beautiful broccoli--whether it's from Alaska or not? Visit our South Anchorage Farmers' Market website:
www.southanchoragefarmersmarket.com

Here are just a few of the great broccoli (and other vegetable) recipes you'll find on the website and in our farmers' market cookbook:

*broccoli with golden raisins--http://tinyurl.com/6a5l7y
*broccoli salad with roasted peppers, capers, and olives--http://tinyurl.com/5afbwy
*pasta with loads of broccoli, green olives and pine nuts-- http://tinyurl.com/5vz2ku

akfarmersmarket has contributed a photo to this story.

nickfo

at 12:45 on July 23rd, 2008

I <3 broccoli

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YakimaFruitBlogger

at 13:22 on July 23rd, 2008

Broccoli, a photo from the Yakima Fruit Market in Bothell WA

freshpickednews.com

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mindyhere

at 13:39 on July 23rd, 2008

Broccoli growing in our personal (non-commercial) organic garden.

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joe sacco

at 14:23 on July 23rd, 2008

will somebody please step forward with the answer to cancer.

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loulrc

at 15:40 on July 23rd, 2008

I was asked if I would allow this pic to be submitted to accompany this article.

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sycamorepictures

at 16:05 on July 23rd, 2008

Broccoli fresh from our garden. Sweet, tender and like no grocery store variety you've EVER tasted. Easy to grow too. Give it a try.

daisyjellybean

at 16:25 on July 23rd, 2008

This stunning vegetable was pinholed in Tony and Raquels garden. It's organic and the best broccoli I've ever eaten.

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sunnyd1225

at 16:31 on July 23rd, 2008

My previously broccoli-hating husband now loves this stuff. I started steaming it with lemon, broiling it with olive oil, salt and pepper and ha actually asks for it now. It's now our go-to veggie on weeknights.

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kellyjay

at 16:38 on July 23rd, 2008

pad-see-ew, no bean sprouts, extra broccoli. mmm.

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northriverdesigns

at 17:13 on July 23rd, 2008

This broccoli is just another one of my husband's good vegetables. He grows an excellent garden every summer, consequently we eat very well. What you can't see in the picture is how good this tastes, its absolutely delicious.

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flavorvegan

at 18:42 on July 23rd, 2008

It is truly amazing how much food can contribute to our health. Unfortunately people do not try hard enough to eat nutritional foods which contribute to how we feel. Scientists may not want to give proper credit to broccoli and other vegetables for their amazing health benefits, but time and time again life has shown what you eat goes matter.

kozmic_blues1124

at 18:50 on July 23rd, 2008

Broccoli is one of my ALL TIME favorite vegetables. This photo posted here is of my Italian family's recipe for "Broccoli Aglio Olio", or "Broccoli with Garlic and Olive Oil". I have been eating broccoli this way since I was a child. It's one of my favorites

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penumbras

at 19:50 on July 23rd, 2008

romanesco variety broccoli x cauliflower ... the fractal flowerheads are like eating mathematics :-D

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zaremba

at 01:55 on July 25th, 2008

I made this one night when my wife and daughter were out of town.

It's a T-bone grilled steak, covered with sauteed mushrooms, and a bunch of delicious steamed broccoli.

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nickc78

at 11:29 on July 25th, 2008

fibonacci spirals you can eat!

Ak711

at 11:52 on July 25th, 2008

Broccoli au Gratin
This picture was taken in a restaurant in Hong Kong.

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teh_lisa

at 20:23 on July 25th, 2008

Since I was a child I have enjoyed broccoli. I think my favourite way to eat it is raw. You do not lose the nutrients that way and the flavour is still amazing. Try a raw broccoli tree, like in my bento, or just some raw stems when you clean a fresh bunch. YUM!

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cabayarea

at 21:03 on July 25th, 2008

Broccoli Power!

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Christina 123

at 15:00 on July 27th, 2008

I never did like broccoli much until recently being one of the "super tasters" for whom cabbage and brussels sprouts taste foul, but to my pleasant surprise, found I liked it. Here in England we tend to have it with a combination of cauliflower and carrots, as they take the same length of time to cook.

I like it with a knob of butter and slices of buffalo mozzarella.

theapostrophical

at 22:25 on July 28th, 2008

This non-traditional bento lunch box has a PB&J sandwhich, soybeans, cherries, cheese, and my favorite bento addition ... broccoli!

(I was asked on Flickr to contribute this and the other 3 images of bento lunch boxes.)

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