Hey there viewers! Do you eat broccoli on the regular? If not,
you might reconsider your relationship with this green veggie after seeing this video.
Broccoli is a close relative of Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and kale. The miniature
tree-like veggie belongs to the cruciferous family and is very good for your health.
Eating broccoli regularly will give you wonderful results. In today’s video, we will be discussing
the positive health effects you can expect if you include broccoli in your daily diet.
Can it regulate your blood sugar? Will it increase your concentration? And what
about its anti-aging benefits? We will be talking about all this and more...
#1 You’ll feel fuller and eat less Do you hate those uncontrollable
hunger pains? Well, broccoli can help you not just manage them but it helps
you feel full for a longer period. Yes, you heard that right. Broccoli
promotes satiety. It might actually help you shed some extra pounds too!
How?
Broccoli is a great source of dietary fiber. 100 grams contains roughly 2.6 grams of dietary
fiber. This offers health benefits like lower cholesterol levels, regular bowel movements,
reduced risk of heart disease and stable blood sugar levels.
Dietary fiber is water-soluble and adds to the bulk by absorbing water. It slows down
the movement of food in the digestive system. This promotes the feeling of satiety, meaning you feel
full for a long time. And when you consume fewer calories, you definitely lose weight.
So, if weight loss has been on your mind, include broccoli in your daily
diet. Remember one thing though. Eat it raw or steamed because frying, boiling,
and microwaving destroys some of its nutrients.
#2 Inflammation in your body will be reduced
Fed up of the constant aches and pains? Broccoli could be the answer to this problem.
Inflammation is an indication that your body’s immune system is fighting
something that can be harmful. Blood and fluids accumulate near
the affected site and try to get rid of those harmful irritants.
Inflammation is painful, but it suggests that the body is trying to heal itself.
Chronic inflammation if not treated, can last for several months and even years.
Though inflammation occurs to heal the body,
chronic inflammation can eventually cause several diseases including some cancers
and arthritis. So it is important to treat inflammation by addressing the root cause.
You may ask how broccoli is going to help?
Well broccoli contains potent substances like sulforaphane and kaempferol,
which help fight inflammation. Sulforaphane is an antioxidant and an anti-cancer compound
that has anti-inflammatory properties. Similarly, kaempferol a phytonutrient
is also an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and cardioprotective substance.
That broccoli soup seems more inviting all of a sudden. Doesn’t it?
Are you enjoying this list so far? Well this next point will surely surprise you.
But before we continue, why not subscribe to our channel for more videos like this,
and hit the bell icon so you're always up to date.
#3 You’ll recover better after exercise
If you exercise regularly, broccoli can be your best friend. Your body
needs to recover post-workout and broccoli accelerates the healing.
Half a cup of cooked broccoli contains 51 milligrams of vitamin C, which is around
57% of your daily requirement. Your body requires vitamin C for numerous life-supporting functions
including the biosynthesis of collagen, L-carnitine and protein metabolism.
Collagen in particular is produced with the help of vitamin C. Collagen is the
main component of connective tissue that plays a vital role in wound healing. Other
vital fibrous tissues like ligaments, tendons, skin and bones are also made up of collagen.
When you work out, you feel soreness in the muscles. This happens because your muscle
fibers and tissues are stretched and damaged to some extent. The vitamin C present in broccoli
helps the muscles and tissues recover quicker by creating collagen and metabolizing protein.
Studies have shown vitamin C has the potential to boost collagen production and accelerate healing.
#4 Your Body Will Be Detoxified
Thinking about detoxification? Think broccoli! Broccoli is one of those
few natural green foods that detoxifies your body.
Amongst many other phytonutrients, broccoli is packed w ith glucoraphanin,
gluconasturtiin, and glucobrassicin. These phytonutrients help neutralize
and eliminate unwanted toxins from the body.
A study found that by drinking broccoli sprout beverages, you can detoxify your body
of certain airborne pollutants. But how does broccoli do this?
Sulforaphane occurs naturally in broccoli. It increases the amount of active Phase II
enzymes in the upper respiratory tract. These are the enzymes responsible for
neutralizing the toxins that we breathe through the air. And the fiber present
in broccoli helps in removing the toxins that get dumped by the liver into the intestines.
Before we move ahead, here is another video you might like. Watch it to learn
more about anti-aging protein that helps you look younger.
#5 Stable Blood Sugar Levels
Broccoli is a natural food that helps regulate blood sugar levels.
A study suggests that sulforaphane, found in broccoli, reduces the production of hepatic
glucose and improves glucose control in type 2 diabetes patients. This
means insulin resistance decreases significantly in such patients.
Another reason to eat more of broccoli sprouts is that it improves fasting
glucose in obese patients dealing with irregular type 2 diabetes.
Broccoli is also rich in dietary fiber, which has a positive impact on your blood sugar levels.
Experts believe people who eat more dietary fiber
have fewer chances of developing type 2 diabetes than those who consume less.
By increasing your fiber intake, you can reduce the glycemic index of foods. Another
reason to go all gaga over broccoli is that it helps fight off oxidative
stress caused by diabetes. Antioxidants, like vitamin C and alpha-lipoic acid,
present in broccoli are very helpful in reducing complications caused by diabetes.
#6 Improved Digestive System
Do you suffer from acid reflux? Broccoli could be the perfect answer.
Experts often recommend a high-fiber diet to help deal with symptoms arising from
gut disorders like GERD, duodenal ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, and hemorrhoids.
Our gut is home to different types of bacteria that play an important role in the digestion
process. These beneficial microbes feed upon the fermenting fiber to extract
short-chain fatty acids from them. This improves immunity, providing protection against obesity.
So eat more broccoli for a healthy digestive system.
#7 Relief From Constipation
Are you finding it difficult to get your bowel going every day? You have a cure in broccoli.
Broccoli is loaded with dietary fiber, which helps in normalizing the bowel movements. There are two
types of dietary fibers present in broccoli. Water-soluble fiber absorbs the excess water
and forms a gel which helps in easy digestion of the food. If you are suffering from diarrhea,
this fiber absorbs the excess water and solidifies the watery stool.
The second type of fiber is the water-insoluble type that promotes the movement of food in the
digestive tract. It increases bulk in the stool and makes it easy to pass.
There have been studies confirming that eating broccoli sprouts normalizes bowel movements.
So the next time you feel constipated, have steamed broccoli sprouts and let it do its work!
#8 Better Concentration
Experiencing brain fog? Do you find it hard to concentrate? Broccoli might help.
Broccoli is an excellent source of brain-healthy nutrients like vitamin K,
lutein, and beta carotene. It is responsible for improving cognitive functioning and brainpower.
Lutein and beta carotene are antioxidants known to improve brain health and memory.
Scientists recently found that they can use a compound derived from
broccoli sprouts to tweak the level of glutamate.
Certain chemical imbalances occurring in the brains of people suffering from
schizophrenia upset the glutamate levels. The chemical sulforaphane
present in broccoli was found to produce the desired effect.
It is safe to say that broccoli is a great food
for maintaining good mental health, and a sharper brain.
#9 Say Hello to a Younger You
Reduced metabolic function and oxidative stress start the process of aging. While
it’s unavoidable, you can actually slow down this process with a healthy diet.
The key bioactive compound in broccoli- sulforaphane has the ability to hinder aging
by fighting oxidative stress. For a healthier body and healthier mind, eat more broccoli.
How to include broccoli in your diet?
There are three varieties of broccoli available for your consumption. Sprouting broccoli,
calabrese broccoli, and purple cauliflower. Yes,
purple cauliflower is a type of broccoli, despite what its name suggests.
You can eat broccoli raw or steam it for a salad. Another way is to saute it along with
tofu or cottage cheese. Broccoli soup is both delicious and healthy. If you’re still trying
to figure out how to eat it, add this wonderful veggie to your pasta, noodles, or vegetable stock.
Is broccoli a part of your diet? Would you consider trying it after learning
this info? Let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear from you!