Broccoli may not be at the top of your favorite-foods list, but it should be. From boosting immunity to strengthening your skeleton and joints to cutting cancer risk, here are 10 ways this cruciferous veggie sends your health soaring. PART 2
Saturday 20 June 2015
5. Broccoli helps maintain a healthy nervous system and balances sodium’s effect on blood pressure. Broccoli is rich in potassium, which helps stabilize blood pressure and also aids in maintaining a healthy nervous system and brain function, according to Rovenia Brock, PhD, a nutrition coach and author.
6. Broccoli may help prevent cardiovascular disease. Some studies have shown that broccoli’s vitamin B6 and folate may offer some protection against heart disease and stroke.
7. Broccoli improves digestion. Jeanette Bronee, a certified holistic health counselor with Path for Life in New York City, says broccoli’s high fiber content aides with digestion and prevents constipation by sweeping out the digestive tract. "It does need to be slightly cooked to be well digested, though,” she cautions.
8. Broccoli helps fight vision loss and repair skin damage. Broccoli contains lutein, which is important for eye health. Studies have shown that lutein helps prevent age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Additionally, broccoli contains vitamin A, which is essential for vision. Broccoli also contains glucoraphanin, which helps repair damage from too much sun exposure or the aging process.
9. "Super broccoli" may prevent heart disease. Researchers at the Institute for Food Research in Norwich, England, are making broccoli even more powerful by developing a new so-called super broccoli that contains two to three times the normal amount of glucoraphanin, a nutrient that is believed to help prevent heart disease. This new breed of broccoli is not genetically modified, but rather, it's a cross between a British variety and a Sicilian one. On sale in some parts of the United Kingdom and United States now, this super veggie is set to be available across the United States by the end of 2011.
10. Broccoli improves immunity. Broccoli is high in vitamin C, which boosts the immune system and helps fight infection. Somer says broccoli is also packed with phytonutrients and phytochemicals, including sulforaphane, which helps clear toxins from the body and strengthens resistance to colds.
Finally, says Bronee, the superfood is a non-starchy vegetable, so even carbohydrate-conscious eaters can benefit from incorporating broccoli into a healthy diet.
If you don’t like the vegetable plain, broccoli is easy to incorporate in stir-frys, salads, omelets, and more. Search Everyday Health’s recipe database for easy ideas to work broccoli into your diet.
