The Humble Cabbage Fights Cancer
Could an agent in the fight against cancer be lying at our feet? The humble cabbage has been a food staple in many ethnic dishes for centuries: sauerkraut, kimchi, borscht, among others. In addition to filling millions of bellies, the humble cabbage fights cancer according to new research.
That cruciferous veg is good for the gut has never been in doubt but a detailed explanation has been elusive.
The team at the Francis Crick Institute found anti-cancer chemicals were produced as the vegetables were digested.
Cancer Research UK said there were plenty of reasons to eat more veg.
The work focused on how vegetables alter the lining of the intestines, by studying mice and miniature bowels growing in the lab.
Like the skin, the surface of the bowels is constantly being regenerated in a process that takes four to five days.
But this constant renewal needs to be tightly controlled, otherwise it could lead to cancer or gut inflammation.
And the work, published in the journal Immunity, showed chemicals in cruciferous vegetables were vital.
Dr Stockinger said the findings were a “cause for optimism”.
She has reduced the amount of meat she eats and now consumes a lot more vegetables.
She told the BBC: “A lot of dietary advice we’re getting changes periodically – it is very confusing and not clear cut what the causes and consequences are.
“Just telling me it’s good for me without a reason will not make me eat it.
“With this study, we have the molecular mechanisms about how this system works.”
For more information please see original article: How the humble cabbage can stop cancers – BBC News
Our Model
The HealthCare Too model provides for a collaborative holistic care approach to health. We look for articles and knowledge to help consumers and their care teams make holistic health decisions and also shop for the best deals in holistic health so you can find them here! We appreciate the value of surgery and pharmaceuticals but want to make more paths available for your HealthCare Too. See our model for Holistic Health for more information!
