Health Benefits of Broccoli

Broccoli is a plant in the cabbage family, whose large flower head is used as a vegetable. The word broccoli, from the Italian plural of broccolo, refers to "the flowering top of a cabbage". Broccoli is usually boiled or steamed, but may be eaten raw and has become popular as a raw vegetable in hors d'œuvre trays.

Broccoli is classified in the Italica cultivar group of the species Brassica oleracea. Broccoli has large flower heads, usually green in color, arranged in a tree-like fashion on branches sprouting from a thick, edible stalk. The mass of flower heads is surrounded by leaves. Broccoli most closely resembles cauliflower, which is a different cultivar group of the same species.

Broccoli was derived from cultivated leafy cole crops in the Northern Mediterranean in about the 6th century BCE. Since the Roman Empire, broccoli has been considered a uniquely valuable food among Italians. Broccoli was brought to England from Antwerp in the mid-1700s by Peter Scheemakers. Broccoli was first introduced to the United States by Italian immigrants but did not become widely known until the 1920s.

Health Benefits

The phytonutrients and anti-oxidants in broccoli help boost our defense mechanisms and stimulates production of antibodies to fight cancer.

Bone-building: A cup of broccoli juice a day goes a long way to provide calcium for strong bones building. Far better than cow's milk that contains saturated fats and has no other healing virtues as broccoli does.

Birth defect, prevent: The rich anti-oxidant compounds protect sperms and prevents them from genetic damage and possible birth defects.

Breast cancer: Broccoli has an anti-estrogenic compound known as glucosinolates that are especially helpful to excrete excess estrogen that are linked to breast cancer.

Digestive system: Like all cruciferous vegetables, broccoli promotes good colon health, protecting against constipation and colon cancer.

Eye disorders: The high anti-oxidant level in broccoli promotes overall good health and is the best defenses against eye diseases. Lutein in broccoli is especially protective for age-related macular degeneration.

Immune system: Just half a cup of broccoli juice a day will provide more than your daily required vitamin C that helps boost immunity and fight many diseases.

Prostate cancer: Indole-3-carbinol in broccoli is a remarkable cancer-fighting compound which not only fight breast cancer, it has also been shown to be helpful in fighting prostate cancer.

Skin: The high concentration of sulforaphane in broccoli helps to boost liver and skin's detoxification abilities, helping the skin to repair damages done from over-exposure to the sun's UV harm.

Stomach disorders: The high content of sulforaphane in broccoli may help to rid the body of the Helicobacter pylori which is responsible for most peptic ulcers. It also helps other stomach disorders like gastritis, esophagitis and acid indigestion.

Tumors: Sulforaphane is found in extremely high concentration in broccoli sprouts, that help stimulate the body's production of detoxification enzymes which may help reduce the size of tumors.