As a kid, we grew up dreading this green monster- broccoli, childhood’s nemesis.
But once we got over the “it’s GREEN!” phobia, most of us realized that broccoli’s actually pretty tasty. Add to that the fact that broccoli is good for you, and it makes for a pretty good meal.
What most people don’t realize, however, is that broccoli is actually one of the best foods a person can eat- on and off the Ideal Protein diet. According to whfoods.org, it’s actually one of the world’s healthiest foods. Why is that? The answer is simple: Vitamins.
One cup of steamed broccoli, at 55 calories, has 244% DV of vitamin K, 134% DV vitamin C, 53% chromium, 20.6% fiber, the list goes on forever. Vitamins A, E, B2, B3, potassium, copper, magnesium, even protein is thrown into the mix. Talk about a multivitamin! On Ideal Protein, with the limited amount of vitamins and minerals in the diet, broccoli is king in maintaining a good intake of vitamins.
Yes, that was a very long list of letters and words that may or may not mean anything to you. Let’s look at some more informative examples of what this lovely veggie’s nutrients can do for you:
- Kaempferol is a kind of flavonoid (a type of antioxidant) that is generously distributed through broccoli. Kaempferol works as a hypoallergenic and has been shown to lessen the the anti-inflammatory benefits as well.
- Broccoli can contribute to lowering cholesterol when cooked by steaming due to fiber-related components in the veggie that, when steamed, bind together with bile acids in your digestive tract. This makes the bile acids easier to be excreted and results in the lowering of cholesterol levels. Raw broccoli has the same effect on a lower level.
- Broccoli has a very productive influence on your body’s detoxification system. This is brought on by three different glucosinolate phytonutrients, chemicals believed to help prevent disease and keep the body operating smoothly. Glucoraphanin, gluconasturtiian, and gluclbrassicin, when working together, are able to help in the upkeep of the detoxification process. This includes the activation, neutralization, and eradication of unwanted contaminants.
These are just a few of the many, many benefits of broccoli. Who knew something so simple could be so beneficial? With four cups of veggies required daily, consider adding broccoli to your diet.
It’s delicious and great for you!
Resources:
http://www.healthyeating.org/Healthy-Eating/All-Star-Foods/Vegetables/Article-Viewer/Article/91/health-benefits-of-broccoli.aspx
http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=9
http://www.webmd.com/diet/phytonutrients-faq
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