According to a new study, broccoli appears to lower the risk of lung cancer in smokers and ex-smokers.
A research team studied lung-cancer patients and people without the disease who had similar diets and smoking habits. Among smokers, the protective effect of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli ranged from a 20 percent reduction in risk to a 55 percent reduction, depending on the type of vegetable consumed and the duration and intensity of smoking.
Raw vegetables were the only kind found to offer protection to current smokers.