DECEMBER 05, 2005Provided by RealAge.com

Count on Cabbage

50% of users found this article helpful.
Add chopped cabbage to your salads once a week to help reduce your risk of lung cancer.

Each year lung cancer affects almost 175,000 people, of whom as many as 15 percent are non-smokers. Research suggests cabbage may be a good preventive measure for those people. In study participants who had never smoked, people who ate cabbage once per week had lower rates of lung cancer compared to people who do not eat it often.

Isothiocyanates are cancer-fighting compounds found in cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. Research suggests that people who eat the most cruciferous vegetables have much lower rates of lung cancer than people who eat them very infrequently, but the effects are slightly different in people who smoke compared to people who have never smoked. Although cruciferous vegetables appear to help reduce lung cancer risk in people who have never smoked, in smokers the question of whether cruciferous veggies reduce lung cancer risk appears to be dependent upon genetics. Eat cruciferous vegetables raw or lightly steamed to retain their cancer-fighting properties. An excellent option is to toss up a savory slaw with chopped cabbage, sherry vinegar, capers, red onion, and a dollop of tartar sauce.

RealAge Benefit: Eating a diverse diet that includes 5 servings of vegetables per day can make your RealAge as much as 4 years younger.

RealAge Smart Search: Find expert-selected information on isothiocyanates here.



Take the RealAge Test

Was this tip helpful?
Tell us what you think.

Rate this tip:
liked it no thanks

Tip of the Day

In the Spotlight

8 Foods for Longevity

These simple switches will help you slim down and live a long, healthy life.

Learn More »

Yahoo! Health Videos

My Health

help

Tip of the Day

Provided by: RealAgeNov 5, 2009

Piling your favorite sandwich fixings on the right kind of bread could mean healthier blood pressure. The right choice? One hundred percent whole-grain.

Read More »

View All Tips »

Tell us what you think about Yahoo! Health - Send us your feedback