fCAT: innovative peace leadership: Anti-Cancer Foods: Broccoli May protect against lung, colon, breast, bladder, prostate cancer. Works because: The slightly bitter flavor of broccoli—and its cousins Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower—is thought to be the main reason for its impressive track record deterring cancer. In lab studies the bitter chemicals isothiocyanates and glucosinolates actually interfere with cancer progression by activating enzymes that inhibit cancer cells, and suppressing those that promote cancer.