Superfood Smackdown! And the Healthiest Choices Are...
Nutritional all-stars go head-to-head—see which ones come out on top.
By Jessica Girdwain
Best Cancer Fighter
Brussels Sprouts vs Broccoli
Winner: Brussels sprouts
One cup of each of these veggies contains your full recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamins C and K, but the sprouts blow broccoli out of the water with significantly more glucosinolates. When glucosinolates break down in the body, they produce compounds that have been found to inhibit the growth of some cancer cells. Cooking veggies lowers their glucosinolate content, but if you can't stomach them raw, try steaming: A 2009 study found that it retains more of these anticancer compounds than boiling.
Winner: Brussels sprouts
One cup of each of these veggies contains your full recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamins C and K, but the sprouts blow broccoli out of the water with significantly more glucosinolates. When glucosinolates break down in the body, they produce compounds that have been found to inhibit the growth of some cancer cells. Cooking veggies lowers their glucosinolate content, but if you can't stomach them raw, try steaming: A 2009 study found that it retains more of these anticancer compounds than boiling.
From the August 2013 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine