Prostate Cancer and Broccoli

Prostate cancer in your family? Eat your broccoli. A chemical in the veggie may help your genes to prevent prostate cancer.

Sulforaphane, a chemical found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, may help prevent the development of prostate cancer. Here’s how: PTEN is a human gene that helps inhibit prostate cancer growth. This gene can be spontaneously deleted in prostate tissue, making it more susceptible to developing prostate cancer. Sulforaphane interacts with these gene deficient cells to reduce the risk of cancer.

To get the most sulforaphane for your buck, eat your broccoli raw, and chew it well. Broccoli sprouts — broccoli plants that are just a few days old and taste similar to alfalfa sprouts — are an even better source of sulforaphane.