Q:

Can broccoli help prevent cancer?

A: Nothing seems too outrageous these days, even fighting cancer with broccoli.

There is a chemical in broccoli called sulforaphane that stimulates certain "phase II" enzymes. These enzymes have been found to inhibit the growth of cancer in laboratory mice. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and Tsukuba University, Japan, reported these findings at the proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences.

"We have evidence that we can increase the system's levels of protection in people and are planning long-term studies that would reveal any lowered incidence of cancer," the researchers said.

So, eat your broccoli al dente with a lot of melted butter mixed with sautéed almonds. This will keep the vital nutrients locked in while also giving you the protein your body needs.