When it comes to our overall well-being, the food we consume plays a key role. Through our diet, we provide our body with the essential nutrients, vitamins, fibre, and energy to get through the day.The Standard American Diet (SAD), is “believed to contribute to the health challenges experienced in the United States, including cancer.”According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, only about 8% of the standard American diet consists of protective foods.
Cruciferous vegetables are a diverse group of vegetables belonging to the family Brassicaceae, also called ‘Cruciferae,’ that are believed to have cancer-preventive properties. Vegetables belonging to this group are radish, arugula, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, daikon, and turnips, among the rest.These are rich in isothiocyanates, compounds that reduce inflammation and deactivate cancer-causing chemicals.Consuming these vegetables helps lowering the risks of developing certain types of cancer, including breast, esophageal, oral, and kidney cancers.