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Broccoli Compound in Cream Protects Skin from Ultraviolet Damage

It is hardly news to hear that vegetables can help protect against cancer. But researchers at the University of Arizona have come up with an interesting new twist on this advice. Instead of warning people to eat their broccoli, they have put it in a cream to smear on the skin. Sulforaphane, an active compound in broccoli, slows the cancer-causing pathways in cells and kicks chemoprotective genes into gear. The research to determine if sulforaphane will protect skin from ultraviolet radiation is ongoing.

There is also some fascinating earlier research suggesting that diet can also help protect against sunburn and its carcinogenic consequences. Foods as varied as dark chocolate and tomatoes have been shown to offer protection.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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