Broccoli chemical's cancer check

A chemical in vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage can boost DNA repair in cells and may stop them becoming cancerous, a study says.

Another chemical in soy also performs the same role, the Georgetown University team said.

Although a link has already been found between eating these foods and a reduced cancer risk, this research shows how that might happen.

The research is published in the British Journal of Cancer.

Chewing gum aids surgery recovery

Chewing gum may speed recovery after bowel surgery, research suggests.

A US team found chewing gum seemed to speed up the return of normal bowel function, and therefore help shorten hospital stays.

They believe gum may stimulate the same nerves as eating, promoting the release of hormones that activate the gastrointestinal tract.

The study, by Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, California, is published in the journal Archives of Surgery.

Source - BBC News