Do you eat broccoli regularly? There are compelling reasons to “green” your dinner plate with this crunchy, cruciferous vegetable. All veggies are good for you, but broccoli really rocks when it comes to health benefits. Here are five reasons you should eat more broccoli.
Eat more broccoli to prevent cancer
Not all studies show a veggie-rich diet prevents cancer, but the evidence is more convincing for broccoli. Broccoli is a source of compounds called isothiocyanates that turn on enzymes that break down cancer-causing chemicals. It’s also a good source of indoles, particularly indole-3-carbinol, which may reduce the risk of breast and prostate cancer. These two disease-fighting compounds pack a powerful punch against cancer.
Eat more broccoli for stronger bones
Would you believe a serving of cooked broccoli (100 g) has as much calcium as half a glass of milk (100 ml)? Calcium is essential for building strong bones, especially as hormone levels drop with aging. Broccoli is a dairy-free way to get more bone-building calcium.
Eat more broccoli for your heart
Sure, broccoli packs a punch against cancer, but did you know it protects your heart, too? The sulforaphane in broccoli triggers the release of a protein called thioredoxin, a compound that helps to protect the heart against damage that occurs when it’s deprived of oxygen – such as during a heart attack. Rats that ate a broccoli extract for a month developed less heart damage when the oxygen supply to their heart was cut off. One more reason to add broccoli spears to the menu. Not to mention, broccoli is loaded with soluble fiber to help lower cholesterol levels.
Eat more broccoli for healthy vision
Broccoli contains two carotenoids called lutein and zeaxanthin that help to protect the light-sensitive portion of the eye, the retina, from a condition called macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is the most common cause of irreversible visual loss. Aren’t your eyes worth a little extra protection?
Eat more broccoli for younger-looking skin
Broccoli even protects your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. Mice that ate a broccoli extract prior to being exposed to ultraviolet light developed less skin damage and skin tumors than mice that didn’t. Broccoli may not eliminate the need for sunscreen, but it protects the skin from the inside out – something sunscreen can’t do.
The bottom line?
Now you have five good reasons to eat more broccoli. It has too many health benefits to pass up.