Superfoods - Broccoli
Most people think of oranges when they think of Vitamin C. I think of broccoli. Most people think of milk or other dairy products when they think of Calcium. I think of broccoli.
Broccoli in the raw
Did you know that broccoli has more Vitamin C than an orange! Not only does broccoli contain antioxicants including Vitamin C but it’s a particularly good source of folate, or naturally occurring folic acid. And for lactose intolerant individuals, it is an excellent source of Calcium!
Just one serving (1 cup) and you will be receiving health benefits of the following:
- Vitamins C, A, E, K
- Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6
- Folic Acid
- Fibre
- Manganese
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
- Protein
- Omega 3
- Tryptophan
- Iron
- Calcium
- Zinc
- Thiamine
- Riboflavin
- Niacin
- Beta carotene
Sounds like a multi-vitamin supplement, doesn’t it?!
One of my strongest beliefs is, “Prevention is better than cure.” By incorporating superfoods such as broccoli into your eating regime, the health benefits are numerous:
Preventing and/or slowing down the many causes of:
- Osteoporosis
- Macular Degeneration
- High blood pressure
- Anti-inflammatory conditions
- Boils
- Anaemia
- Asthma
- Heart disease
- Cancer - in particular lung, stomach, colon and rectal
Broccoli has the most health benefits when it is eaten raw. If you wish to cook it, then steam very lightly as it loses nutrients as it is cooked. However, being creative and incorporating it into different recipes is another option so that you don’t get tired of eating it the same way all the time.
If you have children that don’t want to eat broccoli, try the trick my mum used when my brother and I were little - calling broccoli the “trees and shrubs” vegetable.
That was a more exciting way to see it and get the health benefits without even realising it!
We are big broccoli eaters in our household. In fact, I just finished some over lunch! Do our kids like it? It’s not their favorite. They do eat it, though. (so I haven’t had to trick them yet!!). And we stay pretty healthy - I think broccoli is part of the reason for that…
Just finished some for dinner here! Glad to hear that you and the kids are healthy, naturally
[...] a combination of tomato and broccoli was more effective at slowing tumor growth than tomatoes or broccoli alone. How to eat more: simmer chopped tomatoes and broccoli in olive oil, top with kalamata olives [...]
[...] Another health benefit of almonds is as an antioxidant source. They are one of the leading food sources of alpha-tocopherol vitamin E. Alpha-tocopherol is the kind of vitamin E the human body absorbs best. A one-ounce serving of almonds contains a similar amount of total polyphenols as one cup of green tea and 1/2 cup of steamed broccoli. [...]