What’s So Great About Broccoli?
Hey guys, the weekend is nearly here and I hope you have all had a fantastic week thus far. For today’s topic, let me talk about the health benefits of broccoli. It is very easy to get in Malaysia and is an extremely popular ingredient in Chinese vegetable dishes. But what exactly are the benefits you get from eating broccoli?
It Reduces the Risk of Various Diseases
Yes it can! Broccoli is not only a healthy vegetable that should be part of your diet, it also has other benefits for your body. A study in Britain showed that broccoli can help to prevent osteoarthiritis – a common type of arthritis where the cartilage at the ends of your bones wear out. Broccoli contains sulforaphane, a compound which can prevent the onset of enzymes that target and destroy the cartilage by intercepting the molecule causing the inflammation.
Super vegetable or body saviour? (pic from familysponge.com) |
Broccoli also helps to increase the production of enzymes in your body that can add to the protection of the heart and blood vessels. It also lowers the number of molecules that can cause damage, which ultimately leads to a much reduced risk of diabetes or heart damage.
Not only that, it can also reduce the chances of developing bladder cancer. Research conducted by the Roswell Cancer Park Institute in the USA showed that simply consuming broccoli three times a month could reduce the risk by up to 40%! That’s a very high improvement without eating much. Even if you don’t like broccoli, this alone should be reason enough to just quickly get it down!
If steamed, broccoli can also help to lower the level of cholesterol. When steamed, the fibre helps to bind the bile acids in the digestive tract much more efficiently, making it easier for the body to eliminate them. This lowers your cholesterol in the process, and while raw broccoli can also help in this regard, it comes nowhere close to steamed broccoli!
High cholesterol? Try some steamed broccoli (pic from doctormurray.com) |
The Finer Details of Nutrition
You don’t have to eat large amounts of broccoli to enjoy its benefits, which is probably why it is very popular. It also provides digestive support as the fibre content of broccoli is very high – a key component to ensure that the body’s digestive system is functioning well. The glucosinolates that are present in broccoli is converted by the body – after conversion, it helps to maintain the health of our stomach lining by preventing bacterial growth.
The unique combination of broccoli’s nutrients also means that various parts of the body will benefit. The carotenoids in broccoli are lutein and zeaxanthin, which are found in large concentration and these help to ensure that your eyes are well and healthy. This will also help to reduce macular degeneration, which is great news for your eyes!
Broccoli can help maintain the health of your eyes! (pic from littlethinkingminds.com) |
Your skin is also a beneficiary, with broccoli helping to support skin that has been damage by the sun. The body converts glucoraphanin into sulforaphane, which has detoxification benefits and helps to reverse the damage caused.
So what are you waiting for? The supermarkets are always stocked with broccoli; perhaps it’s time you tried out this superfood for yourself!