Health Benefits of Broccoli

Regular intake of broccoli helps you reverse the damage caused by diabetes to your heart vessels. This is an interesting finding of a recent study performed by the research team at University of Warwick. Since long, broccoli has been believed to carry lots of nutrients, but this study highlights the role played by this vegetable in controlling the damage caused by diabetes. In fact, broccoli packs some of the most nutrients which are hard to find in other green vegetables.

Broccoli contains important nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid, calcium, and fiber. Although, you can not equate the amount of calcium that you receive from a glass of milk with one serving of this vegetable, broccoli is still considered as an important source of calcium, especially for those, who seem to dislike dairy products. Calcium present in this vegetable helps you build strong bones and is also believed to play an important role in controlling your blood pressure. Many researchers agree that calcium helps in preventing colon cancer.

Broccoli is a rich source of fiber. While half of its fiber is insoluble, the other half is soluble in water. Remember, your body requires both types of fibers to meet its daily requirements. Broccoli certainly offers you more benefits than you can imagine. It contains various protective substances that help you keep numerous unwanted diseases at bay.

Various health organizations recommend eating cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, which should be ate many times a week. This is because broccoli is known to reduce the risk of developing cancer. Just like other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli contains two natural phytochemicals – indoles and isothiocyanates. The regular intake of broccoli promotes the production of enzymes, which are believed to protect the blood vessels. Also, it helps in reducing the high levels of molecules, which are liable to cause cell damage in your body. Other than this, broccoli is also known to reduce the risk of developing heart ailments and strokes.