A doctor shared a case about a 55-year-old female lung cancer patient. After surgery to remove the tumour, she followed a recommendation to eat one type of food daily. As a result, her cancer hasn't recurred for five years. She also successfully lost weight, resolved her pre-existing hypertension, and significantly improved her overall health.
Persistent Cough Revealed Lung Cancer
Nephrologist Dr. Hung Wing-cheung shared a case on a wellness program about a slightly overweight 55-year-old woman with hypertension who regularly attended check-ups every three months and took medication continuously. The woman had a persistent cough from a cold that lasted for half a year without fully resolving. Because her father had passed away from lung adenocarcinoma, giving her a family history, she worried she might also have cancer. So, during one check-up, she asked the doctor to arrange an X-ray.
Hung explained that an X-ray alone might not be able to diagnose lung adenocarcinoma, so he referred her to the chest medicine department for a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung scan. The result revealed a 0.7cm nodule in the upper lobe of her right lung, and she was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma.
Regularly Eating 1 Type of Food, Lung Cancer Didn't Recur for 5 Years
The woman successfully had the malignant tumour removed via surgery but remained worried about recurrence. She asked Hung for methods to prevent it. Hung stated that besides continuous monitoring, he also recommended eating more cruciferous vegetables daily, as they are excellent cancer-preventing foods. Five years later, not only had the slightly overweight woman's lung cancer not recurred, but she had also lost weight, and her blood pressure returned to normal, allowing her to stop taking hypertension medication.
8 Major Benefits of Cruciferous Vegetables: Prevent Cancer & Heart Disease
Why can cruciferous vegetables prevent cancer and lower blood pressure? Hung explained that besides being rich in dietary fiber, these vegetables contain phytochemicals called glucosinolates, which are powerful antioxidants. In the human body, they are metabolized into compounds with high antioxidant capacity, such as isothiocyanates and sulforaphane.
Hung emphasized that cruciferous vegetables offer numerous benefits. Their 8 major health effects are as follows:
- Prevent and fight cancer
- Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
- Combat osteoporosis
- Protect eyesight
- Promote intestinal health
- Fight inflammation
- Anti-aging
- Prevent blood sugar fluctuations
Which Vegetables Belong to the Cruciferous Family?
Hung listed several vegetables belonging to the cruciferous "cabbage family" and reminded everyone to eat more of them daily.
- Flower-head Brassicas:
- Leaf-head Brassicas:
- Cabbage
- Chinese Kale (Gai Lan)
- Kale
- Stem Brassicas:
6 Major Signs of Lung Cancer: Beware of Persistent Cough & Weight Loss
Lung cancer is the number one fatal cancer in Hong Kong. According to Hospital Authority information, lung cancer is a malignant tumour commonly originating from the epithelial cells of the lower respiratory system, including the bronchi and bronchioles. Up to 90 percent of lung cancer cases are related to smoking. Additionally, factors such as long-term lack of fresh vegetables, fruits, and Vitamin A-rich foods in the diet, or long-term inhalation of kitchen fumes, can also increase the risk of cancer.
Common Signs of Lung Cancer:
- Persistent tiredness
- Loss of appetite, weight loss
- Persistent cough
- Shortness of breath
- Coughing up blood-stained phlegm
- Chest pain: Dull pain or sudden sharp pain in the chest when coughing or taking deep breaths
Symptoms After Cancer Cells Spread:
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Swelling in the neck, face, or hands
- Abdominal bloating
- Bone pain
- Headaches
- Focal seizures or hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body)
