Top 9 Incredible Health Benefits Of Eating Broccoli

What do you mean by Broccoli?

Broccoli is a green vegetable that comes from the Brassicaceae family. Broccoli’s flower and stalk are used and eaten as a vegetable. The heart and tasty green vegetable contains Vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. It is known for its multiple health benefits and uses. It is recommended that the vegetable should be steamed as boiling reduces its contents, such as glucosinolate, isothiocyanate, and sulforaphane compounds. This tasty vegetable is a powerhouse of nutrients and is suitable for digestion, the cardiovascular system, and the immune system. It has anti-inflammatory and cancer-preventing properties. China and India are the leading countries for the production of broccoli in the world.

9 incredible health benefits of Broccoli

1. Detoxification: A study published in the journal of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, wherein it has been shown that broccoli contains phytochemicals such as glucoraphanin, gluconasturtiin, and glucobrassicin, which all help to flush out chemicals from the body and helpful in detoxification.
2. Improves eye vision: Broccoli contains biochemical compounds called lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect against macular degeneration, blurred central vision, and cataracts.
3. Builds strong bones: This green vegetable contains Vitamin K, which is good for blood clotting, increasing bone density, and also effective in case of osteoporosis.
4. Weight Loss: The crunchy and tasty herb is full of fibre, low in calories, and gives you the feeling of a full stomach. It is an excellent food for weight loss, improving digestion and relieving constipation.
5. Boosts immunity: Broccoli contains plenty of Vitamin C, which is good for improving the immunity and immune system of the body. It also helps you to fight off infections, both viral and bacterial. Therefore, it is suggested to take everyone when the entire world is engulfed by a coronavirus and quite effective for COVID-19 patients. Vitamin C is also helpful in detoxifying the body and also fights free radicals, thus good in case of age-related macular degeneration.
6. Improves skin health: It contains Vitamin C, which helps to produce collagen. This proteinous compound is good for the health of the skin. Vitamin C also plays a vital role in preventing skin damage, wrinkles, skin cancer, shingles, and ageing.

7. Anti-inflammation: Broccoli has anti-inflammatory effects because of the presence of antioxidants sulforaphane. It helps significantly lower levels of inflammation. It also has adequate amounts of omega-three fatty acids, which are well-known as anti-inflammatory—the presence of kaempferol to lessen the impact of allergy-related problems in our body.
8. Potential antioxidant: It is loaded with various types of antioxidants. The essential antioxidants are Vitamin C, flavonoids, carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene.
9. Autism improvement: It has been found that broccoli has a compound called sulforaphane, which helps to improve the symptoms of autism. It has seen improvements in verbal communication and social interactions.

Nutritional facts of Broccoli

According to USDA, one cup of broccoli (76g) contains the following nutrients. It has Energy (24.3 cal), Carbohydrate (4.78g), Fibre (1.82g), Calcium (35mg), Phosphorous (50.9mg), Potassium (230 mg), Vitamin C (40.5 mg), Folate (49.4 mcg), Vitamin A (6.08mcg), Beta-carotene (70.7 mcg), Lutein and zeaxanthin (566 mcg), Vitamin E (0.11 mg) and Vitamin K (77.5 mcg). It also contains zinc, copper, selenium, and an array of antioxidants.

Broccoli health risks and side effects

Some of the less serious side effects of broccoli are:

• Since it contains a high amount of fibre, it may cause gas.
• Those taking blood-thinning medications should be careful while taking broccoli as it is packed with Vitamin K, which interferes with medications.
• It is better to avoid it if somebody has hypothyroidism.

Important facts about Broccoli

• The tasty and fibrous vegetable originated in Italy.
• In Italian, broccoli is called broccoli means the flowering top of a cabbage.
• The leading producer of broccoli is India and China.
• California produces about 90% of it in the United States.
• The average American takes about 4 lbs. of broccoli annually.
• The United States of America is the third-largest producer of broccoli.

Seven medicinal benefits of Broccoli

1. Cancer prevention: Many studies have been conducted wherein it has been shown that broccoli protects against cancer like breast, prostate, gastric, renal, and bladder.
2. Control blood sugar: Studies have shown that eating broccoli may lower blood sugar, thereby helpful in controlling blood sugar.
3. Improves digestion: The vegetable is packed with fibre, which is good for healthy digestion, reduces inflammation in the bowel region, and supports gut bacterial functions.
4. Brain function: It is suitable for healthy brain function and prevents the slowing down of cognitive processes because of the presence of bioactive compounds, which positively affect the brain.
5. Slowing the ageing process: The phytochemical called sulforaphane helps slow the ageing process by reducing the impact of oxidative stress and reduced metabolic functions.
6. Healthy pregnancy: The vegetable contains numerous vitamins, minerals, protein folate, etc. Folate is good for the fetal brain and cognitive development of the baby.
7. Protects cardiac function: It has fibre potassium and is full of antioxidants, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.

Dietary eating tips for Broccoli

• Broccoli shouldn’t be cooked well; instead, it is steaming to maintain its maximum nutrients.
• Try to get them tight and firm from the market, which is dark green.
• Wash broccoli just before making. It is better to keep it in the refrigerator.
• The risk of contamination is comparatively low in the vegetables.
• It’s a perfect side dish, used for breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with beef, chicken, pork, and tofu.