Broccoli originated from the Mediterranean coast and was introduced to China in the 19th century. Cauliflower has been introduced into China for only one hundred years. Therefore, broccoli is rarely mentioned in the famous medical books of traditional Chinese medicine, but it has a high reputation in modern nutrition and medicine.
Some people call broccoli 'a good medicine from heaven' and 'a doctor for the poor'. This is because often eating broccoli has the effects of refreshing the throat, opening the voice, moistening the lung and relieving cough. Long term consumption can also reduce the incidence of breast cancer, rectal cancer and gastric cancer.
Broccoli may have the most significant effect of anti-cancer. Cauliflower contains more vitamin C than Chinese cabbage, tomato and celery, especially in the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer and breast cancer. Studies have shown that when suffering from gastric cancer, the level of selenium in human serum is significantly decreased, and the concentration of vitamin C in gastric juice is also significantly lower than that in normal people. Cauliflower can not only supplement a certain amount of selenium and vitamin C, but also supply rich carotene, which can prevent the formation of precancerous cells and inhibit the growth of cancer.
According to American nutritionists, there are many indole derivatives in cauliflower, which can reduce the level of estrogen in human body and prevent the occurrence of breast cancer. In addition, studies have shown that an enzyme extracted from cauliflower can prevent cancer. This substance is called raphaelin, which can improve the activity of detoxification enzyme of carcinogen.