Steamed broccoli. Cooked broccoli. Broccoli soup. Broccoli with butter. Broccoli with lemon. Broccoli with cheese. Broccoli slaw. Broccoli casserole. Young Chiropractic's tastebuds are salivating! Are yours? They should be!

 

Broccoli is a super vegetable! It has vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients reported to protect bone, prevent cancer and osteoporosis, reduce blood cholesterol levels, control high blood pressure, protect the heart, and so much more. Everyone knows that broccoli is green in color. However, if you can find it when it has a hint of purple to it, it's even healthier with a higher level of carotenoids. (1,6) Trust Young Chiropractic: these carotenoids are good for you!

 

One of the cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is a favorite of dieticians and Young Chiropractic...and should be for you! Broccoli is a good source of calcium, iron, folate, protein, magnesium and Omega 3 fatty acids. It is even one of the highest sources of fiber. Just one cup of cooked broccoli has 22% of the recommended daily value (DV) of fiber as well as 160% of the DV for vitamin C and 8% of calcium DV. Just one cup!

 

You know Young Chiropractic writes and talks about the need for Vitamin D and how many of our diets are deficient in this great vitamin. So broccoli comes to the rescue. Broccoli doesn't have Vitamin D in it, but it does have Vitamins K and A which help your body metabolize the Vitamin D supplements you take and be put to use properly. So take your D, and eat your broccoli!

 

Broccoli detoxifies and cleanses. Between its high fiber content and its amino acids, broccoli helps your body get rid of free radicals and toxins. Plus it has two unique phytochemicals - isothiocyanates and indoles. We're not going to go into them in too much depth other than to explain that they are good! The isothiocyanates reportedly boost the liver's ability to get rid of toxins and free radicals that you collect as you wander around Easley living life. That's great!

 

Broccoli is full of anti-cancer goodness for cancers like colon, prostate, breast, bladder and ovarian. Increase your broccoli's potency by adding some spice like mustard or wasabi which contain the enzyme myrosinase to boost its anti-cancer value. (4) Spicy additions like this help ensure that broccoli's nutrients are absorbed in the upper digestive system maximize its health benefit. (4) So spice up your broccoli!

 

Broccoli is best when it's raw, steamed, stir-fried or microwaved to keep all the nutrients from escaping. (5) With such easy ways to prepare it, you should add in a cup of broccoli every couple of days for the best results.

 

Check out these more in-depth articles. Then, contact Young Chiropractic about other great vegetables you might want to try for a healthier you!