Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower: The Vegetables That May Prevent Cancer

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 2-8-2006 | Ian Sample

[blam]

Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower: the vegetables that may prevent cancer

· Foods contain chemicals that help repair DNA
· Study backs link between diet and disease

Ian Sample, science correspondent
Wednesday February 8, 2006
The Guardian (UK)

Natural chemicals found in soya beans and vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower boost the body's ability to repair damaged DNA and may prevent cells turning cancerous, scientists said yesterday. Studies have suggested that eating vegetables appears to provide some protection against certain cancers, but until now the reason why has been a mystery.

Researchers at Georgetown University in Washington DC believe the answer lies with two naturally occurring compounds. The first, indole-3-carbinol or I3C is abundant in vegetables including broccoli and cabbage, while the second, genistein, occurs naturally in soya beans.

The researchers found that when the chemicals were added to cells they boosted the activity of two genes, known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, both of which play a crucial role in detecting damaged DNA and marshalling a cell's response to fix it. Mutations in either of these genes often lead to breast, ovarian and prostate cancer because they are unable to prevent damaged DNA being passed on to the next generation of cells.

Writing in the British Journal of Cancer, the researchers said that since very low levels of BRCA proteins are seen in cancerous cells, higher levels might prevent cancer developing.

"We know that one of the functions of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes is to maintain genomic integrity, and to do that, they first have to be able to detect DNA damage and signal to the cell that it is there, and then become involved in repairing it," said Eliot Rosen, the lead author of the study.

[Dad yer funny]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1576267/posts

Hi cyborg , please excuse the time lag of this post...

... as comical as it may be, take a looksee,what some FReepers are stocking for our "supposed" blizzard...

and then,back on the Broccoli thread read post #82 from the effete-knowIT-all BagelFace

...please don't get me wrong , I'm not a FOODnazi , and I eat most everything in moderation...

...I'd just love it , if more FReepers could stick around,in reasonably good health,to do what we do,for our Good Ol' USofA