Health Benefits of Broccoli

Broccoli is rich in nutrients. It is a nutrients powerhouse. Broccoli is low in calories and sodium, is fat free, is high in fiber, is very high in vitamin C and has vitamin A, vitamin B6 and potassium. It has good amount of protein too for a nonstarchy vegetable. Broccoli is rich with antioxidants and phytochemicals such as kaempferol, beta carotene and zeaxanthin. That is the nutrients of broccoli. What about the health benefits of broccoli? Well, here they are.

Digestion

One of the health benefits of broccoli is that it is good for your digestive system. It helps your digestive system in many ways. One, broccoli is high in fiber content. It has nearly 1 gram of fiber per 10 calories. Fiber helps you to keep your regular and maintain the levels of healthy bacteria in your intestines.

Two, broccoli contains sulforaphane, which helps to keep Helicobacter pylori, the stomach bacteria, from clinging too strongly to the stomach wall and from becoming overgrown. A study in 2009 by John Hopkins found that mice that were fed with broccoli sprouts daily for two months have their H. pylori in their stool reduced by over 40%.

Anti inflammatory

Another example of health benefits of broccoli is its anti inflammatory properties. Sulforaphane in broccoli help people suffering from arthritis because the chemical blocks the enzymes that caused joint destruction by stopping a molecule known to cause inflammation, according to a study at the University of East Anglia in 2013.

Another nutrients found in broccoli, omega-3 fatty acids and isothiocyanates, are known to help regulating inflammation. A study published in the Journal Inflammation Researcher in 2010 suggested that kaempferol lessens allergens impact which can reduce chronic inflammation, especially in the intestinal tract.

Eye health

Carrot is good for your eyes, right? You might already hear this. But what makes it so? It is because carrot contains lutein, a compound antioxidant that is good for eye health. It turns out that broccoli also contains lutein. Another broccoli is antioxidant that is good for eye health is zeaxanthin. Both of lutein and zeaxanthin help protecting the eye from cataracts, a clouding of eye is lens and macular degeneration, an incurable condition that makes central vision blur.

Detoxification

The phytochemicals lucobrassicin, gluconasturtii glucoraphanin in broccoli help in all steps of body is detoxification process. Starting from activation, then neutralization to the end, elimination of contaminants. Broccoli sprouts are especially potent in this, according to a study.

Heart health

There is another benefit from the antinflammatory properties of broccoli. Indeed, the anti-inflammatory properties help keep your heart healthy. The sulforaphane in broccoli may able to prevent or reverse the damage to blood vessel linings that are caused by chronic blood sugar problems. Also, according to the Harvard University School of Public Health, broccoli B-complex vitamins help in reducing or regulating excessive homocysteine. Homocysteine is amino acids that build up after someone eats red meat. Excess number of it can increase the risk of developing coronary artery disease.

Cancer

Cancer prevention maybe is the most publicized health benefits of broccoli. Broccoli is one of the cruciferous vegetables and all vegetables in this group are thought to be protective against some intestinal and stomach cancers. Broccoli is isothiocyanates, which include indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane, act as antioxidants, reducing oxidative stress and boost detoxifying enzymes. They may also affect estrogen levels, which may help in reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Cholesterol

Broccoli can help lower cholesterol level. Why? Because broccoli contains soluble fiber that binds with the cholesterol in the blood. Because of this binding, the cholesterol is easier to excrete. And as a result, the cholesterol levels in the body are lessened.

So, those are the many health benefits of broccoli. Impressive, is not it? If you want to make your life healthier, you can add broccoli to your diet. After all, broccoli is safe to eat, just do not eat it too much as it will cause bowel irritation and gas.