In the instructions of the Functional Diet, I recommend that you consume the vegetables that are high in fiber and/or tend to grow above ground. The Brassica family, or the cruciferous vegetables tend to conform to this standard, and as you will see, they are very health giving.
The Brassica family, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collard greens, watercress, turnips, mustard greens, radishes, mizuna, and rutabaga are some of the members we are probably familiar with. A great deal of research has gone into the study of this vegetable family, and for very good reasons. The Brassica family of vegetables contains not only the fiber that keeps our bowels regular and helps stabilize blood sugar, it also makes cancer cells in culture stop growing and commit suicide, which is called apoptosis. The research has been done with human breast cancer cells, prostate cancer cells, colon cancer cells, and cervical cancer cells. It has also inhibited the growth of the herpes simplex virus and the papilloma virus, both of which are pro-carcinogens. Some of this research is over 30 years old, and mainline medicine isn’t anxious to spread the news, even though the studies have been published in distinguished medical journals.
I try to eat at least one serving of the Brassica family daily, and would strongly recommend that you do likewise for yourself and your family. These vegetables are low on the glycemic index and are safe for diabetics and those with hypoglycemia and insulin resistance.
