“Eat Your Veggies” is what our parents said repeatedly at the dinner table. They knew that good nutrition included a variety of fresh vegetables each day. However, modern day parents tend to prioritize vegetable consumption much less than their elders. Fast paced lifestyles often lack a diet rich in vegetables. Grab-and-go meals skimp on veggies. They focus on fast prep ingredients that hold up on shelves for longer periods of time. A lifestyle change needs to occur that can be lifesaving. Eating your veggies can actually prevent cancer. It’s time to slow down, embrace nature and let plant power work its magic in your daily diet.
Green Chemoprevention May Reduce the Risk of Cancer
Recent studies have shown that certain vegetables, in particular the cruciferous family, may affect cancer growth. It’s called green chemoprevention and may reduce the risk of cancer. It examines the cruciferous family of vegetables that are part of the Brassica genus of plants. These consist of arugula, broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, radishes, bok choy, and more. Not only are cruciferous vegetables nutrient rich, but they contain certain phytochemicals that have been shown to prevent certain cancers. Global studies have confirmed a correlation between consumption of cruciferous vegetables in the prevention of prostate cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer and lung cancer. Current studies at the GW Cancer Center continue to examine the effects of green chemoprevention.
Cancer Prevention Using Powerful Plant Properties
Further studies from the National Institute of Health (NIH) show the importance of green chemoprevention. In fact, research revealed that those who ate the least amount of vegetables had almost twice the risk of developing cancer over those who ate a signficantly larger amount. Once again, cruciferous vegetables were identified as containing anti-cancer properties due to their high concentration of sulforophane. Sulforophane’s natural, sulfur-rich compounds were found to have powerful health benefits. They were linked to reduced risk of cancers such as prostate, non-hodgkins lymphoma, breast cancer, bladder cancer and lung cancer. Such research is promising to the future of cancer prevention. Undeniably, green chemoprevention is a food-centered approach to population health cancer prevention. Harnessing plant power in disease prevention is certainly a healthier, less costly alternative to conventional medicine.
How Should Veggies Be Consumed for Maximum Benefits?
How you prepare and consume cruciferous vegetables makes a difference in their health benefits. Surprisingly, raw vegetables can have 10 times the sulforophone than those cooked. Likewise, lightly steaming your vegetables is an excellent method for optimum health benefits. Microwaving or boiling your vegetables is not recommended. As such, it is important not to overcook them. While sulforophone is best consumed naturally through cruciferous plants, this phytocompound is also available in a supplement form called Broccoli extract if desired.
To inspire you to incorporate more vegetables into your diet, read Dr. William Li’s book Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself. Dr. Li discusses at length how food can transform your health, along with the health benefits of a variety of vegetables. Whip up delicious plant based meals with easy, healthy recipes found in the #1 Bestseller Beat Cancer Kitchen: Deliciously Simple Plant Based Recipes by Chris and Micah Wark.
Fill Your Diet With A Variety of Vegetables
As a Modern Empty Nester, you need to protect your health. Eating your veggies can prevent cancer. Be sure to fill your diet with a variety of vegetables, including cruciferous ones, to receive maximum health benefits. Most importantly, do not stick to the same vegetables each day. Many individual cruciferous vegetables have anti-cancer phytonutrients. However, together they act as powerhouses to help fight the risk of cancer. Be adventurous and discover new vegetable favorites to tickle your taste buds. Buy local and organic for maximum flavor. You will enjoy them even more knowing they can possibly prevent cancer. Remember, you only have one body … so take very good care of it.
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