Dr. Geo Espinosa | Sep 26, 2013
Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, collard greens, horseradish, wasabi, radish, turnips and watercress. To get the best health benefits from these super veggies, eat several servings per week. Make sure to eat them raw at least a few times a week because heating up the vegetables destroys some of the cancer-fighting substances such as isothiocyanate and glucoraphanin (a precurser to sulforaphane). These substances cause hundreds of genetic changes that can activate certain genes that fight cancer and switch off other genes that feed tumor growth.
These substances help prevent bladder cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer. The sulforaphane in cruciferous vegetables blocks enzymes in your body that destroy joints, which can help prevent osteoarthritis and slow down the progression of this and other inflammatory diseases.
Cruciferous Vegetables And Hormone Balance
Men are not usually worried about their estrogen levels, but they should be. As men age, their testosterone starts to decline and sometimes their estrogen levels go up, causing an imbalance and serious health problems. Balanced estrogen levels are important for a healthy libido, strong bones, heart health, a healthy prostate and improved brain function.
Even slightly elevated estrogen levels double a man’s risk of stroke and can lead to a higher incidence of coronary artery disease. High estrogen levels put men at higher risk for enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. This is especially true if men have low free testosterone blood levels.
Estrogen Complications
If men have too little estrogen, it puts them at risk for osteoporosis and can lead to bone fractures. Having low estrogen is also bad for the heart. One study published in the Journal of the American Medical Associationmeasured the blood level of a type of estrogen, estradiol, in men with chronic heart failure. The men with the lowest estradiol levels were 317 percent more likely to die in the next few years compared to men with a balanced estradiol level. The good news is that the DIM men get from cruciferous vegetables can help control their estrogen levels and keep estrogen properly balanced with testosterone.
Cruciferous vegetables contain indole-3-carbinol, a precursor to DIM, which helps men balance their hormones naturally. Its health benefits are one reason it is an ingredient in natural supplements for prostate health such as Prost-P10x. DIM is a phytonutrient that promotes and supports estrogen metabolism. DIM is also good for prostate health because it interferes with the growth of prostate cancer cells, improves prostate function and helps reduce nighttime urination in men with enlarged prostate (BPH).
Talk to your doctor about testing your hormone levels if you are concerned about your estrogen and testosterone levels. Your doctor can order blood tests to determine if your free testosterone and estrogen/estradiol are out of balance, and he can recommend the right treatment for you to protect your heart and prostate health and overall well-being. In the meantime, keep eating your cruciferous vegetables, which not only help you prevent disease but also help with keeping you regular.
