Dr. McDougall's Online Discussion Board

I recently read that broccoli, of all things, is associated with thyroid cancer. I have a feeling, though, that the benefits outweigh the risks. This seems to tie into a problem of iodine. Any thoughts?

The goitrogenic food such as cruciferous vegetables including cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are considered potential risk factors for thyroid cancer, whereas these vegetables provide some benefits in other types of cancers or diseases. Fruits such as persimmons and tangerines were inversely associated with risk.

DenverGuy wrote:I recently read that broccoli, of all things, is associated with thyroid cancer. I have a feeling, though, that the benefits outweigh the risks. This seems to tie into a problem of iodine. Any thoughts?

The goitrogenic food such as cruciferous vegetables including cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are considered potential risk factors for thyroid cancer, whereas these vegetables provide some benefits in other types of cancers or diseases. Fruits such as persimmons and tangerines were inversely associated with risk.

Can you provide the source? It should be a well conducted scientific study or review, otherwise, it's probably of low value.

Goitrogenic foods like the cruciferous ones like you've mentioned have only really been an issue historically for people with existing thyroid damage/vulnerability. Even then, it would be when eating them as the mainstay of your fruit and vegetables - unless you've had something like thyroid removal or damage, and/or are on thyroxine, in which case you'd probably need specialist management.

I'd guess cancer risk may be the same - but also curious as to whether cancer vulnerability was triggered beforehand, when eating animal products and oils.

Goitrogenic foods like the cruciferous ones like broccoli actually have been a problem for some people and not an issue.
But when I look back on the article, it's primarily based on animal tests - not humans. I shouldn't have posted what I did.
But it does seem that one would have to eat A LOT of broccoli to run into problems.

I am chuckling as I read this because I was always led to believe that broccoli is a great anti-cancer food.