All About Broccoli
Understanding Broccoli
Broccoli by its botanical name is known as Brassica. This green vegetable is the leading member of the cruciferous family of vegetable. The term “broccoli” means “branch” or “arm”. Broccoli was a popular food among the ancient Romans and at one time grew wild on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Broccoli was used as a vegetable in 16th century France, in England in the 1700s and commercial growth began in the U.S. in the 1920s. There are different kinds of vegetables that are related to broccoli:
• Broccoli raab has “heads” that look like broccoli florets on long, thin stems.
• Broccoli rapini has fewer florets and taste like mustard.
• Broccoflower is a cross between broccoli and cauliflower.
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One of the most common side effects is gas or bowel irritation that is caused by broccoli’s high fiber content. Since all cruciferous vegetables can cause gas the health benefits of broccoli far outweigh the discomfort. People who are taking blood-thinning medications should watch their broccoli intake because the vegetable’s vitamin K content might interfere with the effectiveness of their medication. Those who have hypothyroidism should also limit their intake of broccoli.
Raw or Cooked Broccoli
The way that broccoli is prepared can affect the amount of nutrients that you get and which ones. For people who want to eat broccoli for its anticancer benefits the vegetable shouldn’t be cooked for too long. Boiling broccoli can undermine the effects of the good, cancer-fighting enzymes in it. In a study done it was discovered that boiling led to the largest losses of cancer-fighting nutrients. Steaming for up to 20 minutes, microwaving for up to three minutes and stir-frying for up to five minutes produced no significant loss of cancer-preventive substances. It is raw broccoli that maintains all of its nutrients but in the raw form it is more likely to irritate your bowels and cause
A plant-based diet is high in fiber, minerals and vitamins. The American Cancer Society is quick to point out that you should not need to take extra vitamins if you are eating five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Citrus fruits, berries, and tomatoes are good sources of vitamin C. Beta-carotene is found in vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and cabbage. Cruciferous vegetables may have cancer preventative properties. Since fruits and vegetables are inherently low in fat, eating them often will also help keep your fat intake down.
buildup of gas in the abdominal area. This leads to discomfort, cramps, and bloating. (Ni 2009)
Between 5 to 10% of the population has Irritable bowel syndrome, a common disease that occurs when your large intestine contracts slower or faster than normal (Erlich, 2014). Present at any age range, irritable bowel syndrome is very common; but, between the ages of 20 to 39, it can affect up to twice as many women as men. This pressing disease is often associated with stress or dietary restrictions and causes symptoms such as cramping, abdominal pain, gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation. Such indicators are presumably uncomfortable as IBS is a long-term chronic condition
Some benefits of having more vegetables than what is recommended include: reducing blood cholesterol levels, maintaining healthy blood pressure levels and keeping skin and eyes healthy. Having an abundance of vegetables in your diet can help reduce blood cholesterol levels as vegetables are fibre rich foods. This combined with the fact that folate helps the body form red blood cells is the reason why having lots of vegetables can maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Vitamin A, found in many vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and dark leafy greens, helps to maintain healthy skin and eyes. Having too many vegetables in your diet can cause mineral absorbsion problems, weight gain and digestive problems. It was found that getting 50 grams of fibre from vegetables can affect how your body absorbs vital minerals such as magnesium, iron and/or zinc. Surprisingly, this was found through a study by The New England Journal of Medicine through a recent study in 2011. This study showed that eating too many starchy vegetables, such as potatoes and corn, in the long run . This over consumption was evident in Breanna's diet. Too many vegetables in anyone's diet can cause digestive problems as all vegetables are high in dietary fibre. When there is too much of dietary fibre in a diet it can cause bloating and stomach
It is important to note, however, that consuming these items raw, in their natural form, will provide your body with much more rapid healing. Cooking these carotenoid rich foods down to a mushy consistency destroys the healing power in the foods.
Broccoli is a good source of vitamins and fiber. Granted it can give some people indigestion or bad gas, it is still
Green, leafy vegetables have been known to be very rich in vitamins, minerals as well as phytonutrients. They are full of chlorophy11 and fiber, which is good for your digestive system, as well as your blood. One cup of any kind of leafy green vegetable is recommended to be eaten daily in order to prevent and lessen any type of diseases and
Kale is considered a superfood too many nutritionist. Much like spinach it contains iron, fiber, antioxidants, vitamin D and C. Kale has been known to lower high blood pressure and the risk of heart attacks. Scientist have looked into this superfood and have noticed that people who consume kale tend to have lower rates of the include cancers; bladder, breast, colon, ovary, and prostate. The reason for this is because of its capabilities of detoxifying the human body. Many doctors find that this is one of the best methods to cleanse ones entire digestive system with zero side effects. On top of that kale works the same way as oat meal latching on to your excess cholesterol and fat allowing you to relieve
A research has shown that people who have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have adverse reactions to gluten-containing diet. The study noted that the control group with IBS who ate foods with gluten was reported to experience bloating, more pain, and fatigue, than the group who follow a gluten-free diet. In addition, other studies also show that consumption of gluten can cause irritation and damage to the lining of the intestines.
Cauliflower Rich in Cancer-Fighting Glucosinolates. Cauliflower advantages: -Boost Brain wellness. -Anti-Inflammatory. -Detoxification assistance.
○ Try avoiding foods that cause gas. These include beans, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and asparagus.
Broccoli grows as cauliflower and usually dark green, in the form of a blossom with many bouquets, and contains the following nutrients:
Fiber intake increased: in green smoothies whole vegetable or fruits are used so that we will get all type of nutrition and fibers. It is good for colon health that’s why green smoothies are better than green
Vibrantly green and packed to the brim with a plethora of nutrients, broccoli has been cultivated since ancient Roman times. It makes for a perfect addition to a variety of foods, and it can help make you feel a little less guilty about eating fried chicken. Though often reviled by kids, this bushy vegetable really is one of the smarter things to eat. Feel healthy and happy with our arrangement of broccoli throw
There are many variables in the cooking process that affect the preservation of the food’s nutrition. Some variables include, “the intensity of the heat, the duration of heating, and contact with water. The latter seems to be the most important variable” (Novella par. 10). Because contact with water in the cooking process is the most important variable in determining the end outcome of the nutrition count, many scientists believe that microwaving foods is the best method to preserve these vital nutrients. Methods that use a lot of water, such as the steaming of vegetables or boiling of potatoes, diminishes the nutritional values greatly. Steven pointed out that, “Boiling vegetables has the most dramatic effect on their nutrient content, especially on water-soluble vitamins. The water leaches out the nutrients, which then evaporate with the water” (Novella par. 11). Microwaves require much less water when preparing/re-heating a food product and, therefore, results in a better retention of its nutrients. For example, microwaving vegetables such as tomatoes and carrots can increase the amount of lycopene and carotenoid levels (Novella par. 13-14). Not adding water to one’s vegetables can result in a win-win situation in some cases depending on which types of vegetables are being