Broccoli is regarded as a delicious and heartbreaking vegetable that is packed with hundreds of nutrients. Broccoli is among the most important green vegetables that immediately come to mind when discussing foods that should be consumed in a balanced diet. Broccoli belongs to the cabbage family of edible green plants. While more research is required, some intriguing findings about sulforophane's anti-cancer properties have been made by researchers. And if that weren't enough, a cup of cooked broccoli has almost as much vitamin C as an orange and is a good source of beta-carotene.
Cooked or raw broccoli can be consumed— both are completely healthy but provide different nutritional profiles.
Nutritional Benefits of Broccoli
Different methods of cooking such as boiling, microwaving, stir-frying and steaming change the nutritional content of the vegetable, in particular lowering vitamin C, as well as dissolved protein and sugar. Steaming seems to have only the fewest negative effects. Broccoli is a good source of fiber and protein, including iron, potassium, calcium, selenium, and magnesium as well as vitamins A, C, E, K and a good nutrient variety of folic acid.
Is Broccoli Good for Heart Health?
The intake of steamed broccoli daily decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing the total cholesterol level in the body. Another US study also showed that dietary vegetables, particularly leafy greens vegetables such as broccoli, could minimize the risk of heart disease. People who eat broccoli are less likely to be harmed by heart disease. They also have a lower chance of having to resort to an IVC filter being implanted in to help with their heart disease. A bad IVC filter could lead to blood clots and an IVC lawsuit if the IVC filter is found to be faulty.
Broccoli Help Build Strong Bones
Vitamin K is an essential nutrient required for coagulation and may play a key role in preserving healthy and strong bones. While more studies are needed, there has been clinical evidence that in those with bone loss, vitamin K can enhance bone health in general as well as increase bone mineral density and decrease fracture levels. If you are taking blood thinners like warfarin, you should be aware of your intake of vitamin K as it may interfere with the drug, so check with your doctor before making any changes in diet.
Can Broccoli Help in Preventing Cancer
While there are no clear’ superfoods’ capable of preventing cancer, and some cancer risk factors are irrelevant to diet, there is evidence that eating a healthy diet will decrease cancer risk. A major component in broccoli is a phytochemical called sulforaphane that gives a faint bitter taste to broccoli, too.
This community of vegetables includes natural compounds related to cancer prevention — thanks to their capacity to neutralize toxins and prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells, Cruciferous veggies often help apoptosis, or the body’s self-destruct cycle to destroy defective cells.
Broccoli is Also Linked With Brain Health
Some carbohydrates and other bioactive compounds in broccoli have been connected to healthy functioning of the brain and nervous tissue, plus safety against age-related mental deterioration.
Broccoli Fights with Inflammation
While helping to prevent premature aging, broccoli’s anti-inflammatory capacity is linked to a lower risk of chronic diseases. Inflammation-fighting agents, which shield cells from DNA disruption, can also help control chronic inflammatory disorders— including type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, inflammatory skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, and obesity.
