A SPROUT A DAY KEEPS CANCER AT BAY Something to sprout about A LOCAL cancer scientist served up his own advice in Bolton yesterday when he proved life really can be a bed of . . . sprouts. Dr Alan McGown, head of Drug Development at the Patterson Institute based at The Christie Hospital, in Manchester, was promoting his theory that the seasonal vegetable could be the key to warding off cancer. And to push home the message of healthy eating all year round Dr McGown paid a visit to William C Arnold Ltd, a vegetable wholesalers on Kay Street, Bolton, to put his feet up.

Dr McGown coined the phrase "A Sprout's Not Just For Christmas, It's For Life" which has been officially adopted by the Cancer Research Campaign and the frozen food specialists Iceland who now have it printed across T-shirts.

According to research carried out by the Campaign and Iceland, many children only get the recommended daily amount of vegetables with their Christmas lunch.

Dr McGown, who heads a team researching the anti-cancer properties of plants, explained: "Lots of people love sprouts, but many soldier through their Christmas dose of the vegetable just because it's part of the Christmas meal.

"But a sprout a day really can help keep the doctor away. Sprouts, when fresh or frozen, are an excellent source of vitamins, fibre and nitrogen compounds called indoles which are thought to reduce the risk of certain cancers."

Of the 300,000 people who get cancer each year, about a third of cases are diet related and therefore potentially preventable. These include bowel and stomach cancers which currently claim the lives of 30,000 men and women each year.

Jean King, the Campaign's Director of Education, said: "Fruit and vegetables provide a wonderful cocktail of vitamins, minerals and other substances that are believed to have anti-cancer properties.

"Green vegetables, such as broccoli and sprouts, can be particularly beneficial. That's why we recommend that people eat at least two portions of fruit or vegetables every day, not just at Christmas."

Cancer Research Campaign's partnership with Iceland entitled 'Eat Smarter, Eat More Frozen Veg, Campaign', is aimed at encouraging families to eat more vegetables. It has enrolled the support of 'Green Goddess' Diana Moran.

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