Cruciferous Vegetables Improve Survival In Women With Breast Cancer

At the recent American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting, new evidence highlighted the importance of cruciferous vegetables for breast cancer protection.

The cruciferous vegetable family:

    Arugula

    Bok choy

    Broccoli

    Broccoli rabe

    Broccolini

    Brussels sprouts

    Cabbage

    Cauliflower

    Collards

    Horseradish

    Kale

    Kohlrabi

    Mustard greens

    Radish

    Red cabbage

    Rutabaga

    Turnips

    Turnip greens

    Watercress



The cruciferous family is unique among vegetables because of their glucosinolate content -- glucosinolates give cruciferous vegetables their characteristic spicy or bitter tastes; when the plant cell walls are broken by blending, chopping, or chewing, an enzyme called myrosinase converts glucosinolates to isothiocyanates (ITCs) -- compounds with potent anti-cancer effects, including:1

    Anti-inflammatory effects -- ITCs have been found to decrease the secretion of inflammatory molecules.

    Anti-angiogenic effects -- isothiocyanates can inhibit the development of new blood vessels to limit tumor growth.