Broccoli - Full of Body Benefits

Broccoli is one of the most nutritious veggies on the planet and you should be eating lots of it. A member of the Cruciferous family which also includes cauliflower, cabbage, and brussel sprouts, broccoli is full of vitamins and antioxidants that aid in our overall health. Let's take a look at some of the many benefits broccoli can provide us!

DIGESTION - Broccoli is full of fiber which is probably one of the most important things for our body's overall well being. Fiber plays a vital role in keeping our digestive tracts healthy and functioning properly. In fact, studies have suggested that getting enough fiber can actually help manage the effects of colitis by helping regulate our digestion. It's also thought that broccoli helps to keep our stomach lining healthy and can help maintain the amount of healthy bacteria in our guts. 

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY - Broccoli boasts a large collection of vitamins and minerals, plenty of which help to fight off inflammation. Vitamins like vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium, all help to fight off inflammation in our body's. It's thought that getting enough of these vitamins and minerals can help to reduce / fight inflammation which can lead to more sever disease and illnesses if left untreated.

ANTI-CANCER / BODY DETOXIFICATION - The antioxidants in cruciferous vegetables are currently being studied for their anti-cancer properties. Their unique antioxidants are integral for fighting free radicals in our systems and also have been shown to reduce excess estrogen which can lead to breast and uterine cancers. Their unique antioxidants also target free radicals which can lead to a multitude of health problems. Including anti-carcinogenic vitamin C, they also contain beta-carotene, sulforaphane, glucoraphanin, diindolylmethane, isothiocyanates, and selenium, all of which are thought to be anti-carcinogenic.

EYE, BONE, and TEETH HEALTH - Broccoli is full of carotenoids that have been studied for their help in protecting our eyes from degenerative disorders like cataracts. Broccoli is also full of vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, and zinc, all of which are beneficial for our bones / teeth. In fact, getting enough vitamin K is especially important because it helps to form osteocalcin which is a protein only found in our bones. 

WAYS TO GET ENOUGH

There are so many ways to enjoy broccoli that it really isn't hard to get enough of this green super veggie. There are varying reports on whether you get the full benefits of broccoli raw or cooked so enjoying both ways is in my opinion, the best way to take advantage of its nutritional benefits. Here's a few easy ways to get more broccoli in your diets!

RAW

• Snacking on broccoli is obviously the easiest way to enjoy those raw broccoli benefits. Cut up into smaller florets and enjoyed with some hummus is a great way to add some additional protein and nutrients to your broccoli.
• Broken down into smaller florets and added to lettuce salads 
• Pulsed up in a food processor and added to coleslaw or other chopped salads.

COOKED

• Added to soups, casseroles, or stews
• Steamed 
• Roasted
• Baked under a layer of cheese perhaps ;) 

The possibilities are truly endless with broccoli. Not only is it delicious, but it's incredibly versatile and works in a variety of dishes and various cooking methods. Getting enough broccoli is easy and super beneficial for our bodies so try adding more broccoli to your diet to reap these benefits <3 

HAPPY VEG

Sources
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/health-benefits-of-broccoli.html
https://www.livescience.com/45408-broccoli-nutrition.html