Posts Tagged ‘Broccoli’
Prostate Cancer Risk Reduction for Seniors
- Image by Thai Jasmine via Flickr
Men entering their senior years have an increased risk of prostate cancer. The good news is that a number of preemptive aging steps can be taken that will reduce that risk. Many factors contribute to the risk of senior men contracting prostate cancer, but changes in lifestyle and nutrition can provide protection against it. Lowering the risk increases the probability of escaping protate cancer. For example diets that are high in Omega-6 and saturated fats increase the risk, but the Omega-3 fats found in fish oil decrease the risk. Adding plant foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, and soy protects against prostate cancer and numerous other diseases.
Adding key supplements to senior’s diets can further reduce the risk. Vitamin D has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Vitamin E was used with selenium in an extensive study that produced a negative result in terms of preventing prostate cancer. Fortunately for senior men an analysis of that study revealed that only one component of vitamin E, the alpha component, was used. Other studies have shown that the gamma component of vitamin E is needed to balance the alpha component. Seniors can add both components by means of supplements or by adding foods that are rich in all the components of vitamin E. For example almonds, sunflower nuts and asparagus provide the full spectrum of vitamin E.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=bb3e44a0-b70f-477b-b340-9257169edf02)
Foods for Prostate Cancer Risk Reduction
- Image via Wikipedia
These well-known vegetables that can be eaten either cooked or raw make the good list of foods that contribute to preemptive aging for the benefit of seniors. The vegetables that qualify include broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. They belongs to the same family popularly known as cruciferous vegetables, which are members of the genus Brassica. Earlier epidemiological research indicated that consuming at least one serving a week of these vegetables would help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. The researchers suspected that the compounds found in these vegetables known as isothiocyantes were responsible for this cancer risk reduction effect, but they were not able to reach a firm conclusion.
More recent studies with men who volunteered for a 12 month study did a comparison of the effects of a broccoli-rich diet versus a pea-rich diet. The volunteers on the broccoli rich diet showed beneficial anti-cancer changes in their medical tests on their prostates following the 12 month study compared with their medical tests performed prior to the study. The volunteers on the pea-rich diet did not show any beneficial anti-cancer changes in their medical tests following the 12 month study. The consumption of a broccoli-rich diet had a preemptive effect on the processes that allow inflammation and carcinogenesis to be initiated. The results of this study supported the conclusion that a diet that is rich in cruciferous vegetables may lower the risk of prostate cancer.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=9210091f-5a92-44f7-bc0d-591686060696)
Draino For Your Arteries
- Image by bardgabbard via Flickr
One of the major health hazards that seniors face is clogged arteries that reduce blood circulation and can result in heart attacks. Relief may be available by adding a green vegetable to your diet to improve your cardiovascular health. In a recent study in London that was funded by a British Heart Foundation researchers discovered that a compound found in broccoli provided protection against clogging of arteries. The compound that protected arteries from clogging is called sulforaphane.
Sulforaphane is found naturally in boroccoli. It turns out that sulforophane is capable of activating a key protein that prevents clogging of arteries. In the absence of sulforophane the key protein, Nrf2, is inactive which allows the part of the arteries that are vulnerable to become clogged. The sulforophane used in the research was a purified form that allowed the researchers to highlight the protective effect on arteries. The next stage of the research will be focused on determining the effect of the sulforophane as it is found naturally in vegetables such as broccoli.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=e5f8ceec-80bc-4d4b-8c1b-e7da5b698e01)
Does Horseradish Protect Against Cancer?
- Image via Wikipedia
Most folks probably do not know that horseradish is related to cabbage, brussel sprouts and related cruciferous vegetables. Over the centuries it has been used as a multipurpose herbal remedy to treat a variety of ailments from the common cold to headaches. Recent medical studies have identified a new application based on the anticancer effects of horseradish. It turns out that horseradish contains large amounts of cancer-fighting compounds known as glucosinolates. These compounds amplify the ability of the liver to detoxify carcinogens. This detoxifying action by the liver may suppress the growth of cancerous tumors. Although all the cruciferous or Brassica vegetables contain these compounds, horseradish contains nearly ten times as much glucosinolates as broccoli. This is good news for folks who are choosing foods in their diet to promote senior health.
Once horseradish is enters the digestive system its glucosinolates are broken down into isothiocyanates and indoles that appear to be the principal agents that cause the desired anticancer effects. The anticancer effects are twofold. The liver uses them to detoxify carcinogens, in order to prevent cancers from getting started. In the case of an already existing cancer they can apparently suppress the growth of that cancer. Finally horseradish is one of the few medicinal vegetables that is improved by processing, because processing horseradish releases an already present enzyme that breaks down the glucosinolates into the desired cancer-fighting compounds.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=d3639fff-89dc-4f71-9392-872ae4bc17e4)
Eat Your Broccoli!
Broccoli isn’t just a good green vegetable among the many red, yellow and green vegetables. It turns out that it can apparently have a positive effect in modifying the pathways in the body that lead to inflamation and carcinogens, particularly in the prostate. Researchers in the UK have reported that by incorporating broccoli in their diet that men over 55 showed a reduced risk for
prostate cancer. The men were chosen for the test, because they already had markers for the pre-invasive stage of that cancer.
Two groups were studied under the condition that half were fed a broccoli rich diet and the other half were given a control diet. The researchers hypothsize that some of the chemicals found in the cruciferous vegetable broccoli produce changes in the bloodstream that discourage the promotion of cancer growth. This is good news for men 55 years of age and older, because they can start incorporating broccoli into their diet as a preemptive aging measure against developing prostate cancer.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=d55e3323-03be-45d4-9de8-551c1023c8ab)