by preventing the formation of carcinogens in your body or by blocking cancer-causing
substances from reaching or reacting with sensitive body tissues or by inhibiting the trans-
formation of healthy cells to malignant ones.
All cruciferous vegetables contain sulforaphane, a member of a family of chemicals
known as isothiocyanates. In experiments with laboratory rats, sulforaphane appears to
increase the body’s production of phase-2 enzymes, naturally occurring substances that inacti-
vate and help eliminate carcinogens. At the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland,
69 percent of the rats injected with a chemical known to cause mammary cancer developed
tumors vs. only 26 percent of the rats given the carcinogenic chemical plus sulforaphane.
In 1997, Johns Hopkins researchers discovered that broccoli seeds and three-day-old
broccoli sprouts contain a compound converted to sulforaphane when the seed and sprout
cells are crushed. Five grams of three-day-old broccoli sprouts contain as much sulforaphane
as 150 grams of mature broccoli. The sulforaphane levels in other cruciferous vegetables have
not yet been calculated.
Vision protection. In 2004, the Johns Hopkins researchers updated their findings on sul-
foraphane to suggest that it may also protect cells in the eyes from damage due to UV
(ultraviolet) light, thus reducing the risk of macular degeneration, the most common cause
of age-related vision loss.
Adverse Effects Associated with This Food
Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter). Cruciferous vegetables, including cauliflower, contain goi-
trin, thiocyanate, and isothiocyanate. These chemicals, known collectively as goitrogens,
inhibit the formation of thyroid hormones and cause the thyroid to enlarge in an attempt to
produce more. Goitrogens are not hazardous for healthy people who eat moderate amounts
of cruciferous vegetables, but they may pose problems for people who have a thyroid condi-
tion or are taking thyroid medication.
Intestinal gas. Bacteria that live naturally in the gut degrade the indigestible carbohydrates
(food fiber) in cauliflower, producing intestinal gas that some people find distressing.
Food/Drug Interactions
Anticoagulants (blood thinners). All cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussels sprouts, cab-
bages, cauliflower, greens, radishes, and turnips) are high in vitamin K, a nutrient that
decreases the anticoagulant effect of medicine such as warfarin (Coumadin). Multiple serv-
ings of this vegetable, i.e., several days a week, may interfere with the anticoagulant effect
of the drug.
False-positive test for occult blood in the stool. The active ingredient in the guaiac slide test for hid-
den blood in feces is alphaguaiaconic acid, a chemical that turns blue in the presence of blood.
Cauliflower contains peroxidase, a natural chemical that also turns alphaguaiaconic acid blue
and may produce a positive test in people who do not actually have blood in the stool.
Cauliflower