Broccoli

I have been picking a lot of this beautiful vegetable the past couple of weeks. My family and I love to eat this. We tend to forget that there are other vegetables sometimes. But after doing some research I have found that that is not such a bad thing.

This wonderful cruciferous (type of vegetable) has been shown to fend off cancer, osteoporosis, birth defects, and heart disease. It can also boost your immunity.

Broccoli is considered to be the most beneficial of the cruciferous family of vegetables which include Brussels-sprouts, cabbage, kale, turnips, cauliflower, and collards. Do not think, however, that you do not have to eat any of the others, they have their own benifits. Broccoli just has a special combination that is not found in the others.

Broccoli is chocked full of super nutrients. Each one has its place in keeping us healthy.

Nutrients
I3C (indole-3-carbinol)
Sulforphane
Beta-carotene
Vitamin-C
Calcium
Folate
Fiber

I3C or indole-3-carbinol and sulforphane work together to fight against cancer.

Beta-carotene is converted to Vitamin-A, an antioxidant, in the body.

In a half cup of chopped lightly steamed broccoli you get the benefit of 100% of the Daily Value of Vitamin-C. Which is approxamitaly 60 milligrams according to this website http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/scales/dailyvalues.htm. Uncooked has even more since heat naturally kills off this nutrient.

In one cup of cooked broccoli has 72 milligrams of calcium. The recommended Daily Value (DV) is 1000 milligrams for men between the ages of 25 and 65 and women between 25 and 50. Men and women over the age of 65 need 1,500 milligrams daily and women who are pregenant or brestfeeding need 1,200 to 1,500.

Folate is a nutrient that is essential for tissue growth.

Trere are two grams of fiber in just one half cup of broccoli.
As much as the first President Bush hated broccoli we should try to incorporate it into our diets as often as possible.

*Most of this article is from notes I took or quotes as from the book, ”The Doctors Book of Food Remedies” by Prevention Health Books.