Broccoli has many benefits and is one of those vegetables that is easily incorporated into your diet and since it has so many nutrients deciding to eat it is a no-brainer.
In case you didn’t know, Broccoli is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, which also includes cabbage, cauliflower, and cress among other things. All cruciferous vegetables come highly recommended for their nutritional value, but none more so than broccoli.
Related: Superfoods For Weight Loss
To get an idea of broccoli’s nutritional content, have a look at this list: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Folic Acid, Manganese, Dietary fiber, Potassium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B5, Magnesium, Calcium, Choline, Vitamin B1, Iron, and Selenium.
That list of 16 different nutrients doesn’t even cover everything that broccoli contains! Pound for pound, broccoli has one of the highest proportions of nutrients of any vegetable. But in order to understand just what makes broccoli good for us, it’s important to know what some of these nutrients do.
Here is some information about these nutrients broccoli is rich in.
Vitamin C: 1 cup of broccoli contains your full daily requirement of vitamin C. Vitamin C is necessary for the proper function of a number of enzymes in the body. It’s also an antioxidant, supports the immune system, and is a natural antihistamine.
Vitamin A: Vitamin A is important to healthy vision, the immune system and for maintaining good skin condition. It is especially important for pregnant women to maintain sufficient, though (importantly) not excess, levels of vitamin A.
Vitamin K: This vitamin is important for blood coagulation: the body’s natural protection against excess blood loss through clotting. It also helps to maintain healthy bones.
Folic Acid: Folic acid is particularly important for pregnant women, and is known to reduce the rate of birth defects. It’s also important for psychological health and is thought to help in the prevention of strokes.
Fiber: The fiber in broccoli is what makes it so detoxing. It helps clean your system of excess cholesterol, dead cells, and toxins.
Calcium: Broccoli contains about 50 mg of calcium which is the same amount as in 40 ml of milk. It is important for building bones and regulating muscle and nerve function.
Benefits of Broccoli
Broccoli has probably too many benefits to list and thus puts it on the list of superfoods.
Here are 10 of the most important ones. Broccoli contains powerful antioxidants and fiber that your body needs to fight disease and inflammation.
- Helps Reduce Cholesterol
- Prevents Cancer
- Improves Eye Health
- Strengthens Your Bones
- Helps Your Detox
- Treats Diabetes
- Helps regulate blood pressure
- Promotes Weight Loss
- Anti-Aging
- Improves Gut Health
The Best Way To Cook Broccoli and Why
To get the most out of your broccoli, it’s best not to overcook it as this will kill much of its nutritional value. Avoiding this is easy: simply make sure that your broccoli is still crunchy when you serve it.
Watch this video to learn the right way to cook it so you get the most nutrients.
