Broccoli soup: My new superpower (Maybe?)...
It tastes a lot better than it sounds, I promise!
Let’s be clear, I didn’t wake up one morning and say, “You know what the world needs? Another middle-aged bloke oversharing on the internet.” But here we are!
A prostate cancer diagnosis has a way of rearranging your priorities. Suddenly, I found myself knee-deep in articles about Keto diets, cold showers, and whether or not coffee is trying to kill me as well! Some of it’s helpful. Some of its bonkers. But most of it just bloody well overwhelming🤯.
So, I started this part of my Substack. Not because I have the answers (spoiler: I really don’t), but because I wanted somewhere to dump the stuff I’m trying, the things I’m learning, and to get other people in my position to join in with the conversation.
If you’re here, thank you. If you’re reading this while nervously Googling PSA scores, you’re in the right place. I can’t promise solutions, but I can promise you won’t be alone in the weirdness. So lets get things started…
👋🏻What has got my attention…
Bright green super soup with GRExtra broccoli!
👍🏻Why am I giving it a go…
In fairness, this soup has been resident in my kitchen cupboard since early 2025, and I have consumed it once a week (as recommended by the suppliers) over the last 4 months or so. This soup came onto my radar following a recommendation from a consultant specialising in urology, and I thought why not give it a try. What is the worst that can happen? I could be a few quid down, but at least my broccoli intake has gone up (I am not a massive lover of broccoli if truth be told). That must be a good thing right?
The main ingredient within this soup is glucoraphanin (try saying that three times in a row, I struggle saying it once!) which contains sulforaphane (that one is a bit easier to say). So what is sulforaphane I hear you shout…
“Sulforaphane is a natural molecule found in plants. In nature, it helps plants to protect themselves against attacks from insects, fungi and bacteria.
Scientists first discovered sulforaphane more than 30 years ago, and immediately spotted its potential to support human health. In the years since, more than 3,000 research papers have been published exploring the many different ways in which this exciting natural molecule could help us to live longer, healthier lives.”1
I started eating this soup as there is evidence to suggest that by men incorporating glucoraphanin (keep in mind that this contains sulforaphane) into their diet may positively affect the development of prostate cancer. There was a trial completed between 2013 and 2015 where men that had early stage prostate cancer (active surveillance, no treatment required) took broccoli soup once a week for year. This was the high level detail from the trial approach:
They were put into three different groups at random:
Group 1 had regular broccoli soup with normal levels of glucoraphanin
Group 2 had broccoli soup with high levels of glucoraphanin
Group 3 had broccoli soup with extra high levels of glucoraphanin
A total of 61 men joined this trial. There were:
20 men in group 1 (regular soup)
23 men in group 2 (high glucoraphanin)
18 men in group 3 (extra high glucoraphanin)
The results showed that men who had soup with high and extra high levels of glucoraphanin, had fewer cell changes. This is in comparison to those who had regular broccoli soup.
The cancer seemed to grow more in the men who had regular broccoli soup. This is in comparison to those who had soup with high and extra high levels of glucoraphanin. But the difference wasn’t big enough to say for sure that it was because of the soup. It may have been due to chance.2
So the company that I get my soup from has found a way to get the sulforaphane element into a powder form so that its customers can make it into a soup without losing any of its potential health benefits. This makes it easy for me to introduce into my weekly diet and with the volume of travelling I manage to do, it is also really easy to take it with me and make whilst on the road. Winner, winner!
Their back story is actually quite interesting I would certainly encourage going to have a look.
👩🔬The science bit to back this up…
Of course, with any statement in regards to health benefit claims, there needs to be something that backs it up in more detail, so here we go:
I found this one from Cancer Research UK to be the easiest to read: A trial looking at the effect of sulforaphane on prostate cancer (ESCAPE)
There is also a good resource list on the Smarter Naturally website (scroll down to the Prostate Cancer button): Research & Evidence
🧐So how is it going so far…
I fully appreciate that I would not be able to directly associate eating bright green soup once a week to the development or non-development of my prostate cancer. But, I view this as being part of the overall changes that I can make to ensure that I give my body the best tools possible in making prostate cancer cells work a damn lot harder. So with the research that I have been presented with and the fact that it is not negatively impacting my daily life, I am in for the long term on this one.
Hint: Put a small (or a big dolloping, your body, your choice😉) amount of cheese on top or chilli flakes…makes it a little more “savoureux”.
I am not sponsored by Smarter Naturally, however, I reached out to the team there and asked for a discount for you, and they gave me a link for you to enjoy 15% off, just click the button above.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and views below…
Avmacol or BROQ are two supplements that contain this.
Thanks for this top tip. I've ordered!