Broccoli is one of the vegetables that shouldn`t miss from our diet. It is low in calories but high in micronutrients, has impressive nutritional qualities and is recommended because it can prevent severe diseases such as cancer or cardiovascular disorders. But that`s not all that broccoli can do, this vegetable is critical for our health and has a lot of benefits.
Firstly, broccoli ensures the healthy functioning of our nervous system. This plant contains a significant quantity of potassium. Potassium is a mineral that maintains the health of our nervous system, ensures the optimal functionality of our brain favors the development of muscular mass.
Also, this little vegetable adjusts the blood pressure. It contains magnesium and calcium, two minerals which are critical when it comes to blood pressure. So, broccoli can protect us from cardiovascular problems such as strokes and heart attacks.
One interesting benefit of this vegetable is that it fights against aging. One cup full of broccoli contains the daily requirement of Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant which fights against free radicals. Furthermore, Vitamin C is very helpful when we are sick and have the flu, because it helps attenuate the discomfort caused by them.
Broccoli maintains our bones healthy. It contains high levels of calcium and Vitamin K, both have important purposes when it comes to keeping our bones healthily and prevent osteoporosis.
You can also consume broccoli when you have problems with your skin after staying in the sun for a long time. It contains glucoraphanin and so has the propriety of protecting our skin from the sun rays acting from the inside to the outside. It also repairs the skin injuries caused by prolonged exposure to the UV rays, helps it detox and regenerates it.
But that is not all that glucoraphanin can do. One of the most significant health benefits of broccoli is that it can prevent cancer. Inside our body, glucoraphanin is transformed into sulforaphane. This thing helps our body to fight with the infection of the virus Helicobacter pylori which is responsible for causing gastric cancer. Furthermore, broccoli also contains indole-3-carbinol which is a powerful antioxidant and anti-carcinogen compound. It is proven that this compound prevents the apparition of breast and colon cancer.
One cup of broccoli it also assures our body a significant quantity of beta-carotene. And that`s not all! It also contains zinc and selenium, and all these three ingredients together are critical for our immune system.
One thing that may not many people knew is that broccoli helps us to lose some few extra pounds. This vegetable is rich in fibers which help our digestion, eliminates constipation, maintain our glycemia in reasonable limits and prevent supra-alimentation. One cup of broccoli has as much proteins as a cup of rice or corn, but has half calories than them.
Broccoli also maintains our eyes healthier. It contains lutein and zeaxanthin, both important in preventing macular degeneration and cataract. In addition, broccoli is a primary source of Vitamin A which is necessary for the rhodopsin to form. Children shouldn’t hate broccoli anymore, our mothers knew the reasons why they put it in our alimentation.
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