Healing Points HealthBlog

Note: Mom was right . . . well, maybe Grandma . . . maybe Great Grand ma? Anyway, eat your vegies.

Five studies presented today during the American Association for Cancer Research's 4th annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting in Baltimore, Md., add to the arsenal of research that shows adding certain vegetables and herbs to the diet can prevent or, in some cases, halt the growth of cancer.
Moreover, it is not just a matter of mechanical prevention, such as adding fiber to the diet to maintain digestive health. This research deals with the chemical interactions between compounds found in foods and the body's cells and DNA, and it shows that the addition of these foods to the diet can reap benefits at any stage of life.
Grocery List For Cancer Prevention

posted by Dr. Grossman # 11:01 AM

Comments:

From the article: "Women with higher rates of raw- or short-cooked cabbage and sauerkraut consumption, three or more servings per week, compared to those who consumed less than one serving a week, had a significantly reduced breast cancer risk."

What exactly does "short-cooked" mean? Is stir-frying or steaming cabbage until it's mostly limp short-cooked? How short is short cooking?

# posted by Cassandra Tondro : 12:19 PM

It means, as you assumed, cooking via stir-frying or steaming at a low temperature until the vegetable is slightly cooked and still a bit crisp. I can't tell you what the exact cooking times should be as they vary from vegetable to vegetable. Broccoli and cauliflower take little cooking, kale and collard greens take a bit more. But certainly not more than 10 minutes. 5 minutes or less works well for me.

Many of the older cooking styles involved boiling vegetables until they were mush, destroying most if not all of the vitamins and phytonutrients. Also, when the cruciferous family is overcooked it tends to cause a lot of intestinal gas, so less cooking is better.

Also broccoli sprouts should be eaten raw and are quite delicious in salads and sandwiches.

This is one of those rare areas in eating habits where "if a little bit is good, a lot is better" holds true. It simply isn't possible to eat too many green vegetables (well, it might be, but it would be very difficult to do so).

# posted by Anonymous : 1:16 PM

.
Also, raw sauerkraut is an excellent way to eat cabbage. It's loaded with beneficail bacteria and the lactic acids in naturally fermented sauerkraut are highly benefical as well. You can find recipies online or in the cookbook "Nourishing Traditions", Kim Chee is also wonderful and you can combine the benefits of cabbage, garlic, peppers, and other vegetables. Here is a site that has a delicious looking recipe: http://www.rejoiceinlife.com/recipes/kimchi.php

# posted by Anonymous : 1:28 PM

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Monday, October 31, 2005

A Grocery List For Cancer Prevention