Broccoli Fights Cancer - the Evidence Keeps Mounting

Subject: BROCCOLI FIGHTS CANCER
From: jai@mantra.com (Dr. Jai Maharaj)
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 1997 01:52:25 UTC
Message-Id: 
Newsgroups: sci.life-extension,sci.med.nutrition,rec.food.veg,
            alt.fan.jai-maharaj,soc.culture.indian,
            soc.culture.usa,alt.culture.hawaii,
            misc.health.alternative,alt.food,hawaii.nortle

BROCCOLI FIGHTS CANCER

[*] Please see also 1995 post appended below.

september 15, 1997

correspondent report
by david mcalary
washington

introduction
   research has shown broccoli to contain potent 
cancer-fighting chemicals.  now a new study suggests that 
broccoli sprouts may provide as much protection against the 
disease as large amounts of the mature vegetable.  v-o-a science 
correspondent david mcalary reports.

text
   five years ago, researchers at the johns hopkins 
university school of medicine isolated a compound called 
sulphoraphane from broccoli and showed that it boosted the 
production of cancer-fighting enzymes in mouse cells growing in 
laboratory cultures.  two years later, they discovered that the 
compound blocks or retards the formation of breast tumors in 
rats.

now, the same team reports in the "proceedings of the [u-s] 
national academy of sciences" that three-day-old broccoli sprouts
contain much larger quantities of chemical precursor to 
sulphoraphane than the mature vegetable.  the research shows the 
young broccoli are 20 to 50 times richer in the compound.

johns hopkins university pharmacologist paul talalay 
['ta-luh-lay; first "a" as in "hat"] says the dietary 
implications are profound.

paul talalay:
      if one examines the epidemiological evidence on the 
      protective effect of broccoli against certain types of 
      cancer, our best estimates are that for an average 
      broccoli, one would have to eat two pounds (nearly one 
      kilogram) per week in order to reduce the colon cancer 
      rate by 50 per cent.  now, many people cannot tolerate 
      such large quantities of vegetables or broccoli.  the 
      implication of finding this very rich source is that one
      could perhaps reduce the consumption by 20 or 25 or 30 
      or more times so that one would only require a couple of
      ounces per week of the sprouts.

the work is an example of what dr. talalay calls chemoprotection 
 -- using substances in the diet to bolster the body's own 
defenses against cancer-causing agents.  it takes advantage of 
the observation that cells contain a family of proteins that 
neutralize the highly dangerous forms of cancer-causing chemicals
before they can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and tumors.

sulphoraphane enhances the activity of these protective proteins.
it is found in the entire family of cruciferous vegetables of 
which broccoli is a member -- arugula, brussels sprouts, cabbage,
cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, turnip, 
watercress, and others.

the new johns hopkins research shows that the sprouts of all 
these vegetables are richer in the sulphoraphane precursor than 
the mature versions.  but broccoli has the most of all.

broccoli sprouts look like alfalfa, but are larger.  dr. talalay 
says they have more flavor and do  not  have the sharp taste of 
mature broccoli that many people do  not  like. 

the sprouts are  not  commercially available, but the johns 
hopkins team is creating a non-profit foundation to support 
further research on them and bring them to market.  a new 
laboratory will test and certify broccoli seeds before permitting
them to be planted as a sprout crop. 

paul talalay:
      as this lab is created, we are in the process of 
      negotiating the manufacture of these sprouts, being very
      discriminating that only the most careful and 
      sophisticated sprout growers are going to have the 
      opportunity of producing these sprouts.

dr. talalay predicts that broccoli sprouts will be on the u-s 
market next year.  (signed)  neb/dem/wfr

15-sep-97 5:52 pm edt (2152 utc)  nnnn  report 2-219923
source - voice of america
Copyright (C) 1997 Mantra Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

[*] I posted the following in 1995:

> Subject:    Fruits and Vegetables are Medicines (Was: Re: Why
>              MEAT is BAD...)
> From:       jai@mantra.com (Dr. Jai Maharaj)
> Date:       December 8, 1995
> Message-ID: <6k4xwQ9zBsIc088yn@mantra.com>
> References: <47vorv$s4t@highway.LeidenUniv.nl>
>              <49njrl$8cm@d2.tufts.edu>
> Newsgroups: sci.life-extension,sci.med.nutrition,rec.food.veg,
>              soc.culture.indian,alt.fan.jai-maharaj
> 
> Fruits and Vegetables are Medicines
> 
>     Proclaiming   what   Asian   health   systems  already  state,
> Hippocrates said:  Let  food be  your medicine  and medicine  your
> food.
>      Protect our planet from the destructive meat industry and also
>  achieve good health for yourself and your family. Here is a short,
>  A-through-G, list of the medicinal properties of some plant foods:
> 
>  APPLE good heart medicine;  lowers blood cholesterol; lowers blood
>  pressure;  stabilizes  blood  sugar;  regulates  appetite; blocks
>  cancer; kills infectious viruses
> APRICOT  cancer inhibitor, especially lung, smoking-related cancer
> ARTICHOKE  lowers blood cholesterol; stimulates bile and urine
> BANANA  prevents and heals ulcers; lowers blood cholesterol
> BARLEY  lowers bood  cholesterol; inhibits  cancer; improves bowel
>  function; relieves constipation
> BEANS reduce bad-type cholesterol; inhibit cancer; control insulin
>  and blood  sugar; lower blood pressure;  regulate colon function;
>  cure  and  prevent  constipation;  prevent  hemorrhoids and other
>  bowel problems
> BLUEBERRY  combats  diarrhea;  kills  infectious  viruses;  blocks
>  damage to blood vessels; acts as a laxative in certain situations
> BROCCOLI  lowers risk of many cancers
> BRUSSEL SPROUTS  inhibit colon and stomach cancer
> CABBAGE lowers  risk of cancer,  espcially of the  colon; prevents
>  and  heals ulcers;  stimulates the  immune system;  kills harmful
>  bacteria  and  viruses;  fosters  growth; prolongs life
> CARROT blocks  cancer, especially smoking-related  cancers; lowers
>  blood cholesterol; prevents constipation;  excellent food for the
>  heart
> CAULIFLOWER reduces  risk of cancer,  especially clon and  stomach
>  cancers
> CHERRY  prevents cavities
> CHILI  PEPPER  excellent  medicine  for  the  lungs;  acts  as  an
>  expectorant; prevents and cures chronic bronchitis and emphysema;
>  acts as a decongestant; dissolves blood clots; kills pain
> CORN prevents cancer; lowers risk of heart disease; lowers risk of
>  cavities; corn oil lowers blood cholesterol
> CRANBERRY  prevents  urinary  tract  infections,  cystitis;  kills
>  harmful bacteria and viruses;  prevents kidney stones; deodorizes
>  urine
> CURRANT  prevents  and  cures  diarrhea;  protects  blood vessels;
>  prolongs life
> EGGPLANT  protects  arteries  from  cholesterol  damage;  prevents
>  cancer; prevents convulsions
> FIG fights cancer; kills  harmful bacteria; kills roundworms; aids
>  digestion
> GARLIC  fights  infections;  prevents  cancer;  thins  the  blood,
>  anticoagulant;  reduces  blood   pressure;  reduces  cholesterol;
>  reduces  triglycerides; strengthens  the immune  system; prevents
>  and cures chronic  bronchitis; acts as an expectorant;  acts as a
>  decongestant;  is an  antiseptic; is  an anti-tumor  agent; is  a
>  sedative; is a  hair restorer; is a vermifuge;  is a carminative;
>  heals arthritis, influenza,  athlete's foot, dyspepsia, epilepsy,
>  gangrene,  hypertension,  piles,  measles,  jaundice, laryngitis,
>  lead   poisoning,  typhoid,   dropsy,  malaria,   lip  and  mouth
>  disorders,  ringworm, scurvy,  intestinal gas,  smallpox, splenic
>  enlargement, eye burns, cholera, phthisis, catarrh, piles, etc.
> GINGER  prevents motion  sickness; thins  the blood;  lowers blood
>  cholesterol;  prevents  cancer;  cures  vomiting; stops coughing;
>  cures abdominal pain; cures lumbago; cures diarrhea
> GRAPE  inactivates viruses; thwarts tooth decay; blocks cancer
> GRAPEFRUIT  great  for  the  cardiovascular  system;  lowers blood
>  cholesterol; protects  arteries from disease; lowers  the risk of
>  cancer
>
> Sample of references:
>   Applied  and Environmental  Biology; Food  Technology; Nutrition
>   Research; Hamdard;  British Journal of  Pharmacology; Journal of
>   Ethno-Pharmacology;  Indian  Journal  of  Experimental Biiology;
>   Israel   Journal  of   Medical  Science;   American  Journal  of
>   Gastroenterology;   American  Journal   of  Clinical  Nutrition;
>   Lipids; Cancer Research; Prostate; British Journal of Nutrition.
>
> Jai Maharaj      *-=Om Shanti=-*

Jai Maharaj
http://www.flex.com/~jai
http://members.aol.com/Jyotishi
Om Shanti

Copyright (C) 1997 Mantra Corporation. All Rights Reserved.