The Health Benefits of Broccol

You probably know that broccoli doesn’t talk, doesn’t walk, and never hitchhikes a ride with strangers. There are however a few facts about Broccoli that you may not be aware of. Broccoli is a vegetable that is well recognized as a super food. Rich in antioxidants kids generally have a tendency to dislike it while vegetarians and dieters love it. Chock full of a vast array of vitamins and minerals broccoli is high in fibre, low in calories, a powerful antioxidant, and a proven cancer fighter.

Like most vegetables broccoli is amazing raw or cooked.  It can be steamed, baked, broiled, or boiled. And whether you eat it as a main dish, in a salad, a stew, or a casserole, broccoli is delicious and nutritious. It is one of those perfect vegetables that has it all. Rich in vitamins and minerals it is also loaded with fibre which helps to make this a highly filling food. If you are dieting this is a vegetable that can satisfy your hunger cravings. 

Broccoli is an excellent source of fibre but what makes the fibre within Broccoli unique is that it is made up of two distinct types, it contains both insoluble and soluble fibre. This means that unlike many other foods broccoli is able to meet your complete fibre needs. It is a member of the cabbage family although it is rarely associated with it. Generally classed as a green vegetable broccoli most closely resembles another member of its family, the Cauliflower. 

The Broccoli family is a bit different from your own though as they do not celebrate family events such as birthdays or family reunions. They prefer to just mingle quietly among themselves without a great deal of fuss or bother about much of anything.

Although broccoli is not orange it does contain carotenoids which are a compound that is found in carrots. It is the reason why broccoli can help prevent cataracts from developing as you age. It is also interesting to note that in the fight against peptic ulcers broccoli can be about as effective as antibiotics in combating the bacteria which causes these peptic ulcers. Way to go broccoli.

Broccoli is an antioxidant rich food and antioxidants help protect us from the risk of developing cancer. But did you know that Broccoli contains the phytonutrients sulforaphane and indoles which are the chief reason for its amazing ability to fight cancer? Yep, tis true. This dark green vegetable is amazing. It is one of these little indole fellows that is believed to be able to suppress breast tumor growth and in addition to this to also have the ability to slow down or stop the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body. Sulforaphane serves a very important function in the fight against cancer.

They increase the body's production of phase II enzymes and it is these enzymes that may be able to detoxify cancer causing chemicals and thereby allow them to be safely eliminated from the body. Lab tests have shown that animals fed a diet rich in sulforaphane have fewer tumors or much smaller tumors than animals who do not receive this special diet.

A second common form of cancer is stomach cancer and tests show that broccoli also offers tremendous protection against this killer. Studies show that broccoli is effective in slowing the development of many types of cancer including ovarian, lung, breast, stomach, and prostrate cancer. Antioxidant rich foods are so very important in maintaining good health so don't forget to put them into your shopping bagThe simple fact is that broccoli is rich in nutrition. It is a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin A and Folic, and it also contains Manganese, Tryptophan, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Protein, omega 3-fatty acids, Vitamin B5, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B3, Zinc, Vitamin E. This is a food that offers you a lot of nutrition for very few calories.
If you were previously not aware of the tremendous health benefits of this dark green vegetable well you know now so next time you are in the supermarket shopping for vegetables insure that Broccoli is one of the first ones that you put into your shopping cart. Turns out that once again mom was right in the advice that she was handing out. You really should eat your vegetables. They are good for you.
 
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