According to the World Cancer Research Fund, it is also thanks to our diet that we can defeat cancer. In fact, together with smoking, a poor diet is the factor that most influences the risk of getting cancer. While it is true that there are no miraculous life-saving foods, it is also true that by choosing the right food we can really do prevention.
Several studies have been carried out on food in recent decades, in an attempt to discover anti-cancer molecules. Lately, one of these researches seems to have yielded important results. A US medical team has found a substance, present in broccoli and cabbage, capable of counteracting the onset of cancer cells. Therefore, treating cancer at the table would be possible thanks to these two winter vegetables, often little loved, but essential for our health.
The research comes directly from a prestigious Boston medical center
As anticipated, according to a US research, all crucifers, including broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, contain an anti-cancer molecule. The first to report it was Pier Paolo Pandolfi, coordinator of the aforementioned research, held at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. The results of the study were then published in the columns of the renowned scientific journal “Science” and promptly reproduced on the pages of the AIRC.
The molecule in question is indole-3-carbinol. Its property would be to stimulate the proliferation of a gene that plays a fundamental role in the repression of cancer cells. Put simply, a gene that fights against tumor birth and growth. The name of this very important gene is PTEN.
Curing cancer at the table would be possible thanks to these two winter vegetables
Thanks to the indole-3-carbinol molecule, present in broccoli and cabbage, the PTEN gene is strongly stimulated. This gene is one of the most potent tumor suppressors in existence. The problem is that some deviated forms of PTEN can also have the opposite effect to that hoped for. In other words, they can promote the birth of a tumor.
But according to the researchers, the indole-3-carbinol molecule would guarantee the orthodox functioning of the PTEN gene. The results of the research give courage, especially since the PTEN gene is not only involved in cancer prevention. Benefits are also linked to it in the case of metabolic diseases and growth disorders. The science has not reached the definitive conclusions but, according to today’s data, eating broccoli and cabbage would help prevent cancer starting from the table.
Deepening
It is possible to understand in advance if we have a tumor by paying attention to these minimal symptoms