You either love it or hate it, but Broccoli is one very powerful vegetable to assist nutritional healing. A cup of broccoli has as much protein as a cup of rice or corn with half the calories.
Here are some very good reasons why broccoli should be an essential part of your diet.
Nourish Nervous System
Broccoli has a rich concentration of potassium and so helps maintain a healthy nervous system and brain function. It also encourages healthy muscle development.
Powerful antioxidant
When we look at all the cruciferous vegetables, we see broccoli is notable as the most concentrated source of vitamin C, plus the flavonoids necessary for vitamin C to recycle effectively. Also concentrated in broccoli are the carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene, other powerful antioxidants.
Blood Pressure
In addition to the rich quantity of potassium, broccoli contains enough magnesium and calcium that help regulate blood pressure.
Vitamin C
One cup of broccoli contains the RDA of vitamin C, an antioxidant essential for combating the effects of free radical damage. Vitamin C is also an effective antihistamine for easing the discomfort of the most infectious conditions like the common cold.
Bone Health
Broccoli contains rich amounts of both Calcium and Vitamin K, both of which are important for bone health and prevention of osteoporosis.
Skin Damage
Broccoli is helpful in rejuvenating damaged skin especially from overexposure to the sun. It contains glucoraphanin which nourishes the skin to detoxify and repair itself.
Immune System
One cup of broccoli reinforces the immune system with a hefty dose of beta-carotene. Trace minerals, such as zinc and selenium, further act to strengthen immune defences.
Cancer Prevention
Broccoli contains glucoraphanin, which with the body processes into the anti-cancer compound sulforaphane. This compound rids the body H. pylori, a bacterium found to highly increase the risk of gastric cancer. Furthermore, broccoli contains indole-3-carbinol, a powerful antioxidant compound and anti-carcinogen found to not only hinder the growth of breast, cervical and prostate cancer, but also boosts liver function.
A Healthy Weight
Broccoli is high in fibre, which aids in digestion, prevents constipation, maintains low blood sugar, and reduces overeating. Furthermore, a cup of broccoli has as much protein as a cup of rice or corn with half the calories.
Eye Health
Studies have shown that the carotenoid lutein helps prevent age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, as well as possesses anti-cancer effects. Additionally, broccoli is a good source of vitamin A that is needed to form retinal, the light-absorbing molecule that is essential for both low-light and colour vision.
Healthy Heart
The carotenoid lutein may also slow down or prevent the thickening of arteries in the human body, thus fighting against heart disease and stoke. The B6 and folate in broccoli also reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke. The anti-inflammatory properties of sulforaphane, one of the isothiocyanates (ITCs) in broccoli, may be able to prevent (or even reverse) some of the damage to blood vessel linings that can be caused by inflammation due to chronic blood sugar problems.
Lower Cholesterol
Broccoli is a whole food that is packed with soluble fibre that draws cholesterol out of your body.
Anti-inflammatory
Reducing allergic reaction and inflammation: Research has shown the ability of kaempferol to lessen the impact of allergy-related substances on our body. Broccoli even has significant amounts of omega 3 fatty acids, which are well known as an anti-inflammatory.
Food is Medicine Too!
James O'Sullivan - that's me, a people friendly practitioner and lecturer of Integrated Medicine, serving my patients, my students and the public with the positive benefits of both Conventional Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It's a wonderful life
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or assess. The information provided is not to be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner.