Broccoli: Putting The Super In Superfood

Is Broccoli a Superfood?

Broccoli is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family, which also includes cabbage, cauliflower, and cress among others. All cruciferous vegetables come highly recommended for their nutritional value.

To get an idea of broccoli nutrition, or its nutritional content, have a look at this list: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Folate, Manganese, Dietary fiber, Potassium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B5, Magnesium, Calcium, Choline, Vitamin B1, Iron, and Selenium.

This list of 16 different nutrients doesn’t even cover everything that broccoli contains! Pound for pound, broccoli has one of the highest proportions of nutrients of any vegetable. But in order to understand just what makes broccoli good for us, it’s important to know what some of these nutrients do for our health. Here is some information about the nutrients broccoli superfood is most rich in.

Benefits of Broccoli

*Health Benefits of Broccoli

Vitamin C

1 cup of broccoli contains your full daily requirement of vitamin C. Vitamin C is necessary for the proper functioning of a number of enzymes in the body. It’s also an antioxidant, supports the immune system, and is a natural antihistamine.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is important to healthy vision, the immune system, and for maintaining good skin condition. It is especially important for pregnant women to maintain sufficient, though (importantly) not excess, levels of vitamin A.

Vitamin K

This vitamin is important for blood coagulation: the body’s natural protection against excess blood loss through clotting. It also helps to maintain healthy bones.

Folate

Folate is particularly important for pregnant women, and is known to reduce the rate of birth defects. It’s also important for psychological health and is thought to help in the prevention of strokes. Note: This is very different from folic acid. People with the MTHFR gene defect need to be extremely cautious to avoid folic acid.

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How to Cook Broccoli

To get the most out of your broccoli, it’s best not to overcook it as this will kill much of its nutritional value. Avoiding this is easy: simply make sure that your broccoli is still crunchy when you serve it. If you usually boil your broccoli, do it for only 2 or 3 minutes. Alternatively, you can lightly steam or fry your broccoli, or eat it raw with a dip like hummus.

However way you choose when cooking broccoli, eating plenty of it is an excellent way to improve your diet and provide your body with the nutrition it needs.

**Note however: People with thyroid disorders may want to avoid cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, as it can interfere with thyroid function for those susceptible to it.