Prevent Stomach Cancer with Baby Broccoli (aka Broccoli Sprouts)

A newly finished study published by the Cancer Prevention Research suggests that eating baby broccoli (aka broccoli sprouts) can prevent stomach cancer. Eating of baby broccoli or any other sprouts for that matter is a wise lifestyle choice but the fact that broccoli sprouts can help prevent stomach cancer makes it so much more viable source of alternative cancer treatment and prevention.

According to research conducted by the researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, regular intake of baby broccoli can help suppress nasty stomach bacteria, such as Helicobacter Pylori (HpSA) – the bug which is known to cause gastritis, stomach ulcers as well as stomach cancer.

The results of the study suggest that there was no drop in levels of Helicobacter Pylori among people who were eating Alfa Alfa sprouts. However sample of people who consumed 70 grams of baby broccoli sprouts for the period of eight weeks showed more than 40% reduction of Helicobacter Pylori in all of three tests – stool, serum and breath.

Baby broccoli sprouts are rich in sulphoraphane – a naturally occurring biochemical and a potent antibiotic that fights of many unfriendly bacteria, including Helicobacter Pylori. Research shows that concentration of sulphoraphane in mature broccoli heads is significantly lower to that of baby broccoli sprouts.

The study however also confirmed that while sulphoraphane in baby broccoli sprouts can help reduce colonization of Helicobacter Pylori, it does not eradicate it hence its role in eliminating stomach cancer is not conclusive. Sulphoraphane in broccoli sprouts does however elevate the body’s protective enzymes which aids in protection against DNA-damaging chemicals, and harmful bacteria caused inflammation.

Baby Broccoli Sprouts Can Aid on Stomach Cancer Prevention, Photo: KatieL366, Flickr

Helicobacter Pylori

H. Pylori is a stomach germ that’s classified as carcinogen by WHO (The World Health Organization) and is linked directly to the development of gastric ulcers and stomach cancer. It’s a bacteria that’s well adopted to surviving the harsh environment of the stomach where it lives within protected area of stomach’s lining. When body detects presence of Helicobacter Pylori, it sends white cells and killer T cells to the area, but those fail at reaching the bacteria becuase of stomach lining which acts as a protective barrier. H. Pylori lives off of nutrients sent by the system to support white cells and grows stronger within the lining, capable of causing peptic ulcer.

Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer is also known by its other name – gastric cancer. It develops when cancer cells from within the lining of the stomach. Because of high death rate, stomach cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the world – it’s the second most common death from cancer in the world, after lung cancer. On a worldwide scale, stomach cancer is the fourth most common cancer.

While occurence of stomach cancer has been decreasing in western countries, including the USA, Canada and most of Europe, it’s prevalence is high in Japan, Korea, Iceland and Chile. There are approximately 25,500 new cases of stomach cancer in the United States and 2,800 in Canada. Stomach cancer is the most common cancer in Japan, where it affects one in every thousand people.

Stomach cancer affects people of African descend more than it affects Caucasians, men are more affected than women and occurrence also grows with age (vast majority of people diagnosed with stomach cancer are 55 years of age or older).

Broccoli sprouts have undeniable beneficial effects in fighting bacterial infection known to be responsible for stomach cancer. The best part of it is, that baby broccoli is widely available in grocery stores and is inexpensive. Make baby broccoli part of your diet and help reduce those nasty Helicobacter Pylori bugs. It can aid in preventing stomach cancer and as was outlined above, stomach cancer is very deadly. Make sure you choose broccoli sprouts over Alfa Alfa sprouts which seem to have no effect on H. Pylori.

Further Reading:

• Diet and Cancer Prevention