Not everyone is a fan of broccoli, it has a distinct vegetable taste to it and is of course hard to feed to the kids. But this vegetable is a star when it comes to providing nutrients, it comes from the family of cruciferous vegetables that include brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage that are known to be anti-cancer food. This is a super vegetable to plant if you are considering growing your own food garden to have a more organic and fresh food supply.
In case you’re doing research and not yet sure about the properties that broccoli brags about, here are some proven health benefits of it:
Perfect for skin care
Only a few know of the secret to great skin, and that is eating vegetables. Broccoli contains a high amount of Vitamin C and beta-carotene that allows the skin to glow and look healthy. Getting perfect skin does not depend on things you put on it, it comes from the inside. When eaten regularly, broccoli allows the body to work with its Vitamin K content which in turn allows the skin tissues to be revived. If you want better skin, start with your diet, start with broccoli.
Fights aging
As we age it is undeniable that our body has lesser capabilities of sustaining their own strength. A compound called sulforaphane is present in broccoli, this compound is known to fight destructive oxygen molecules that targets the cells. Our body is made up of million of cells, and if we want to delay ageing and help our body function well then broccoli can do that.
Has anti-cancer properties
This is probably the most famous known health benefit of broccoli, as it should be. Cancer is a constant frustration, but this vegetable is known to protect you from many forms of cancer. We all have cancer cells inside our bodies, which can be triggered any time, but with the minerals of broccoli you suppress their tendency to grow by stimulating your immune system.
Good for your eyes
This characteristic of broccoli is what most parents tell their kids when they want them to eat vegetables, that it would make their eyesight better. Well, there is truth in that as broccoli contains lutein, a component that is needed by the body to fight off eye diseases.
Strengthens your bones
Every 100 grams of broccoli contains approximately 47 mg of calcium, thus when you’re eating this you’re also giving your bones additional strength. Strengthening your bones should start early, as you age degeneration occurs which may result in brittle bones. Aside from calcium, broccoli also has magnesium, phosphorus, and iron which are all minerals contributing to the strengthening of bones.
Helps flush out toxins
Detoxification is one key to keep the body healthy, it is not only about what we eat but also what we flush out. Broccoli has beneficial phytochemicals that gives the body a chance to detoxify and neutralize. This vegetable seems to take all the toxins out of the body, leaving you only with the good stuff.
Reduces bad cholesterol
We all know that there’s good and bad cholesterol in our bodies, but sometimes the balance is not of healthy proportions. Well broccoli is known to reduce bad cholesterol by helping with the formation of bile. These bile acids allow us to better digest fat from the food that we eat, therefore lessening the chance of forming more bad cholesterol in the body. Apart from contributing to bile formation, broccoli has a high fiber content that promotes digestive health and again in turn lowers cholesterol.
These are only few of the reasons why this vegetable that looks like a little tree is famous all year round, it will not disappoint in any way. A cup a day of this cruciferous vegetable is all you need to add to a great lifestyle.
About the author:
I am Ann Sanders, a Founder and Editor of A Green Hand; a blog dedicated to offering a platform for gardening and healthy living enthusiasts to exchange ideas so that we can all play a role in making our world a better place. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest .
