If you need to reduce weight, it is necessarily to add broccoli to your diet. This vegetable achieves amazing results with the figure and with the health. Besides it is a great food for weight loss also it is one of the best natural cancer cures. Broccoli will make you slim, healthy and happy. Broccoli belongs to the genus Brassica oleracea, which includes cabbage, cauliflower, kale and yellow beet.
It has been cultivated in Italy since Roman times. It has been selected from wild cabbage that was imported from Asia Minor by the traveling traders.
The name “broccoli” comes from the Latin “bracchium”, which means “branch”. It is named like that because of the divergent shape of the stem, which is similar to a tree structure.
The most common is with green color, but also there is with white and purple color.
Broccoli – Nutritional value
Nutritional composition of 100 g: 90.7% water, 28 calories, 3 g protein, 0.35 g fat, 5.25 g carbohydrate.
Broccoli is rich with vitamins (A, B5, B9 and C – almost double from citrus fruit) and minerals (calcium, potassium, selenium, iron, phosphorus and magnesium). Also it contain indole-3-carbinol, chemical compound that boosts DNA repair of the cells and blocks the growth of cancer cells.
The compound diindolylmethane that can be found in broccoli is a powerful regulator of the immune system responsible for anticancer , antiviral and antibacterial properties. Also it contains large quantities of carotenoids, lutein and beta-carotene.
Weight Loss with Broccoli
It is one of the top proven weight loss products because they are low-calorie food that will make you to feel saturated quickly without swollen abdomen, also helps with constipation. Broccoli is regularly used in weight loss programs.
Their high fiber content facilitates the work of the gastrointestinal tract, accelerates and enhances the metabolism.
Besides that they are helping with weight loss, this vegetable also improves the overall health of the body. They have anti-cancer effect; reduce the risk of cardiovascular, neurological and respiratory diseases.
With the regular intake of large amounts of broccoli the risk of aggressive prostate cancer is reduced. Furthermore, it is useful in the prevention of heart disease. However, the consuming should not be exaggerated, because contains sulfate that can cause bloating of the stomach and feelings of nausea.
Broccoli – How to Choose and Prepare them?
Fresh broccoli has flowers with a deeper green color (not yellow), with hard and smooth stem. It can be stored up to 5 days in the refrigerator, to stay fresh. Frozen one retains freshness in the freezer up to one year. To retain their health properties and to help you with weight loss, How to consume: raw – in a salad or alone, steamed, cooked – lightly cooked (about 5-10 minutes) or well cooked (mashed) or baked – in oven or grilled. Must not be overcooked and boiled in oil!
Via: LiveStrong | HowStuffWorks
