A winning combination? A few days ago, I told you about the "new" research going on with broccoli (12/11/06 eTip, Subject line: "Catch of the day"). But broccoli isn't the only Brassica vegetable in the news lately. A study out of the University of Leicester in England also shows that cabbage and Brussels sprouts can help kill cancer cells. The specific phytochemical compound at work in this family of vegetables is called indole-3-carbinol, or I3C. Once again, that much we knew. But this particular research had a much more mainstream slant, pairing the cruciferous duo we've grown to love with chemotherapy. Granted, the results were promising: After "feeding" breast cancer cells 300 to 400 milligrams of I3C, the researchers found that "the [cancer] cells were then more easily killed when exposed to chemotherapy drugs." But rather than continuing on to see what the compound could do on its own, the researchers took the road more traveled (the one paved in gold, by the way) and said that they hoped the I3C "could eventually result in breast cancer patients being effectively treated with lower doses of chemotherapy drugs." Now, I'm all for lower doses of chemo drugs. And I'm not so naïve to think that, when faced with such a devastating diagnosis, the vast majority of people won't go the conventional route. So I guess I should be glad these researchers are even considering a natural alternative as a part of their recommended protocol. However, I also want to make it abundantly clear to anyone battling cancer that there ARE non-drug options. And, given the chance -- and the correct dose -- I3C may be able to do the job all on its own. For more information, Nutrition & Healing subscribers can refer to the bonus report you received with your initial subscription entitled "New Vegetable Miracles." If you don't still have a copy of your own, you can also download and view the report for free on the Nutrition & Healing website. Just go to www.wrightnewsletter.com, log on with the username and password listed in your most recent issue, then scroll down to the bottom of the webpage to find a complete listing of the reports available for online viewing. | 
