Tag Archives: Oregon State University

Diet and Disease – Broccoli may slow down cancer

121395-400x265-Broccoli_sproutsA recent clinical study done by Oregon State University examined the effect of the sulforaphane found in broccoli on breast tissue found in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Not only was the compound well tolerated by cells, but also it seems to slow down the growth rate of cancer cells, especially in early stages.

Sulforaphane is a compound found in cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts, and other leafy vegetables. When broken down (e.g. through chewing), the enzymes that aid in the digestive process are said to release anti-cancer and antimicrobial properties into the body.

The findings of this study are the first to directly suggest that diet plays a direct role in cancer management and prevention. Their original goal was to “determine if sulforaphane supplements would be well tolerated and might alter some of the epigenetic mechanisms involved in cancer,” said Emily Ho, one of the professors involved in the study. However, the results of the study revealed much more.

Ho continued by saying that they “were surprised to see a decrease in markers of cell growth, which means these compounds may help slow cancer cell growth…This is very encouraging. Dietary approaches have traditionally been thought to be limited to cancer prevention, but this demonstrated it could help slow the growth of existing tumors.”

The link between diet and disease makes sense. Providing the body with quality food sources allows it to receive naturally occurring vitamins and nutrients that enables it to function efficiently. The human body requires thousands of enzymes each day that aid a broad spectrum of functions, from digestion, to hormone regulation, fat breakdown, detoxification, and more. It can be difficult to obtain this many enzymes from your diet each day, so supplementing properly will help the body regulate the nutrition you give it.

Because of the cascade fermentation process, Regulat® is predigested, similar in bio-availability to the “food essence” produced by a perfectly functioning digestive system. It thus helps to balance and regulate many bodily systems and increases the body’s ability to manage the nutrients you’re giving it.