Broccoli is a calciferous vegetable and Broccoli is a member of cabbage family. Broccoli is a very good vegetable and is so good that one must consume Broccoli on daily basis. Broccoli contains a substance called Sulforaphane and Sulforaphane is very helpful in reducing the number size and the reproduction of malignant tumors and hence Broccoli prevents occurrence and re occurrence of Cancer and Malignant Tumors.

Nutritional Value of Broccoli:

Broccoli is a cool season crop and demands fertile rich and well-drained soil to flourish.Technically, broccolis are differentiated in to two main types according to their appearance; heading and sprouting. Heading variety forms large, solid head, whereas sprouting types forms many small heads or florets.Mature plant bears about 4-10 inches wide, dark green to purple color flower head depending up on the cultivar type. Central thick stalk measures about 6-10 inches in height. Both thick stalk and fleshy flower heads are edible.Many different hybrid-mix developed with other cruciferous family members such as broccoflower (hybrid of broccoli and cauliflower), broccolini (broccoli and chinese kale) etc.

14 Health Benefits of Broccoli:- 

1. Healthy Eyes

Broccoli and other leafy green vegetables contain powerful phytochemical antioxidants in the carotenoid family called lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which are concentrated in large quantities in the lens of the eye.

2. Blood Pressure

Along with a high amount of potassium, Broccoli also contains magnesium and calcium that help regulate blood pressure.

3. Improved Immune System

Not only does a cup of broccoli contain the RDA for vitamin C, it also fortifies your immune system with a hefty 1359 mcg of beta-carotene, and small but useful amounts of zinc and selenium, two trace minerals that act as cofactors in numerous immune defensive actions.

4. Protection From Ulcers

Broccoli sprouts may help protect from peptic ulcers, and might be considered a natural treatment for ulcers that stem from the bacteria H. pylori. The New York Times reported a study detailed in a 2009 issue of Cancer Prevention Research in which people who were infected with H. pylori showed a lower level of infection after eating broccoli sprouts every day for two months.

5. Reduced Symptoms of Allergies

Broccoli contains the flavonoid kaempferol this has been shown to reduce the levels of allergy related substances in your body. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and can be included as part of a hypo-allergenic diet.

6. Constipation

Broccoli is full of soluble and insoluble fiber which is very important in constipation. Doctors will thus advice you to have Broccoli if you have Constipation.

7. Birth Defect Fighter

Pregnant? You really must eat broccoli. A cup of broccoli supplies 94 mcg of folic acid, a B-vitamin essential for proper cellular division because it is necessary in DNA synthesis. Without folic acid, the fetus’ nervous system cells do not divide properly.

Deficiency of folic acid during pregnancy has been linked to several birth defects, such as spina bifida. Despite folic acid’s wide occurence in food (it’s name comes from the Latin word folium, meaning “foliage,” because it’s found in green leafy vegetables), amazing and little known fact time… folic acid deficiency is the most common vitamin deficiency in the world.

8. Diet Aid

Broccoli is rich in fiber that helps in digestion, maintaining low levels of blood sugar, preventing constipation and also curbs overeating. Moreover, one cup of broccoli has same amount of proteins that are present in a cup of corn or rice with half the calories.

9. Prevent Colds

Helps to get relief from cold symptoms, since it contains Vitamin C, which is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

10. Strong Bones

Studies have shown that broccoli contains more calcium than most dairy products therefore helping to build bone mass. Great news for lactose intolerant people (and there are a lot of us out there) as obtaining sufficient calcium can be difficult for those not consuming dairy products.

11. Real Men Go Green

This and other cruciferous veg like sprouts and cabbage reduce your levels of the female hormone oestrogen, thereby increasing your testerone.

12. Sunburn Repairs

Broccoli is helpful in repairing sunburn skin damage thanks to the glucoraphanin it contains which helps the skin to detoxify and repair itself.

13. Diabetes

Due to it’s high fibre content and low sugar, broccoli helps fight the war on diabetes. The fibre helps keep blood sugar low and as a result insulin can be kept to a minimum.

14. Other Benefits

Fresh Broccoli is a storehouse of many phyto-nutrients such as thiocyanates, indoles, sulforaphae, isothiocyanates and flavonoids like beta-carotene cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Studies have shown that these compounds by modifying positive signalling at molecular receptor levels help protect from prostate, colon, urinary bladder, pancreatic, and breast cancers.

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