Slip, slop, and slap some broccoli onto your skin

By Mariam Digges

Slip, slop, and slap some broccoli onto your skin
A new study suggests that rubbing broccoli into the skin is just as effective as sunscreen in reducing a person’s chance of developing skin cancer.

Sally Dickinson from the Pharmacology Department of the University of Arizona Cancer Centre joined a team from John Hopkins University in Baltimore for the pilot study.

Their findings showed that the folate-rich green vegetable contains a compound called sulforaphane, which could help prevent skin cancer.

Not only useful in blocking cancer-causing pathways, sulforaphane also triggers genes which protect healthy tissue from the toxic effect of the chemotherapy drugs that are often used to fight cancerous growths.

“It is the kind of compound that has so many incredible theoretical applications if the dosage is measured properly,” Dr Dickinson said.

“We already know that it is very effective in blocking sunburns and we have seen cases where it can induce protective enzymes in the skin.”

The team believe that their discovery could one day pave the path for a decrease in skin cancer cases, and will of course eliminate any doubt around potentially-harmful sunscreen nanoparticles.

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