Many people do not know the nutrition of the food they consume, especially green vegetables, even though it is important so that a person can sort and choose which foods he consumes or not. In this post we will discuss one of the green vegetables, namely Broccoli.
Broccoli is a leafy green vegetable with purple flower buds. Actually broccoli is still a family with other vegetables, namely cauliflower, cabbage and kale. To consume this one vegetable can be eaten raw or cooked first.
Many do not like green vegetables such as broccoli, especially if given to children, even though the nutrients they contain are very good for health. Here are the benefits of broccoli for health.
5 Benefits of Broccoli for Body Health
1. Contains Important Nutrients
Broccoli is a good source of fiber and protein, and some of the important substances present in broccoli include iron, potassium, calcium, selenium and magnesium as well as several vitamins such as vitamins A, C, E, K and a good number of B vitamins including folic acid. .
2. Helps Overcome Various Diseases
A study conducted by Nutrition Research revealed that consuming steamed Broccoli regularly can reduce cholesterol in the body and can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Another study in the US also found that incorporating food sources of green vegetables such as broccoli in can reduce the risk of heart disease.
3. Healthy Bones
Vitamin K is an essential nutrient required for blood clotting, and can play an important role in keeping our bones healthy and strong. While further research has revealed, there is consistent evidence that vitamin K can improve overall bone health and can increase bone mineral density and reduce the risk of fractures in those with osteoporosis.
Adults need about 1 mcg of vitamin K per kilogram of body weight, which means a 75 kg adult will need 75 mcg of vitamin K every day. Meanwhile, 100 g of steamed broccoli provides 145 mcg of vitamin K, so this nutrient can be easily obtained through diet alone.
4. Healthy Eyes
Broccoli contains certain carotenoids called lutein and zeaxanthin. These substances can reduce the risk of eye disorders, especially for those who are elderly. It can also prevent someone from night blindness due to vitamin A. Broccoli contains beta-carotene which the body converts into vitamin A.
5. Treating Cancer
Although cancer requires intensive care to treat it, consuming healthy food sources will help treat cancer, one of which is the intake of food from Broccoli.
Broccoli is addictiveThere is an important component called a phytochemical also known as sulforaphane, this substance also gives broccoli its bitter taste. Research has revealed that sulforaphane may play a role in increasing the detoxification of airborne toxins, such as cigarette smoke, and may help reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Further research suggests that broccoli may have anti-cancer properties and may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
For those of you who want to get the health benefits of broccoli, it is better to consume broccoli by boiling or steaming it.
A 2008 report by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry revealed that boiling and steaming are the best ways to keep broccoli’s antioxidant properties from spoiling.
However, several other studies say that consuming raw broccoli is the recommended way because it can contain sulforaphane levels in broccoli itself.
The conclusion is that you can consume broccoli better by boiling it or eating it raw. Hopefully the article above is useful!
