Here's a great reason to celebrate colder weather and shorter days: They usher in visits from a family that brings color to your dinners and good tidings to your colon.
We're talking about the Brassica family—a group of winter-fave veggies that includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. They're slightly bitter, but that's because you can actually taste their colon-cancer-fighting compounds called isothiocyanates.
Colon Cancer Blockers
Research shows that the isothiocyanates in Brassica veggies may actively block potential carcinogens, putting the kibosh on not only colorectal cancer but prostate cancer cells as well. Brassica vegetables are also a good source of folic acid, phenolics, carotenoids, selenium, and vitamin C. (Did you know? About 1 in 3 cancers may be related to what people eat.)
