Broccoli cabbage: useful properties and contraindications of a vegetable. Useful properties for the nervous system

Broccoli is a type of cauliflower that has an intense green color. The described vegetable is very popular among those who choose proper nutrition and healthy food.

A low-calorie and tasty product is also valued in traditional medicine, as it contains many useful substances and trace elements. Such cabbage is well absorbed in any form.- It can be baked, boiled, stewed or fried. In addition, fresh broccoli will also be a great addition to your daily menu.

What is in broccoli

The beneficial properties of this vegetable are due to the optimal content of biologically active substances and valuable trace elements in the product. The table below shows the chemical composition of cabbage inflorescences.

vitamins	trace elements	Other substances
Carotene	Potassium	Water
Thiamine	Calcium	Cellulose
Riboflavin	Magnesium	Ash
Pyridoxine	Sodium	natural sugars
Pantothenic acid	Phosphorus	Food indoles
Vitamin C	Iron	Amino acids
Vitamin E	Zinc	Choline
Folic acid	Selenium	Chlorophyll

It is worth noting that broccoli is a non-calorie product, since 100 g of the vegetable contains from 30 to 34 calories. The share of vegetable proteins in such cabbage is 2.82 g, and it also contains carbohydrates, including 6.60 g. Valuable broccoli and the fact that it contains a minimum of fat. A large amount of dietary fiber - fiber, has a good effect on the work of the intestines and makes the dish of this green vegetable even more useful.

Minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, sodium, manganese, in complex interaction with vitamins, enhance the healing properties of cabbage. They normalize the state of bone tissue, have a positive effect on the process of hematopoiesis. The iron contained in green inflorescences provides oxygen transport in the body, improves the functioning of the endocrine glands.

The benefits and harms of broccoli (video)

Numerous vitamins and folic acid, which are part of the inflorescences, protect the body from the negative effects of the environment. For example, ascorbic acid and carotene prevent premature aging of the body, improve vision and skin condition. And also regular consumption of broccoli dishes has a positive effect on human immunity.

There is much more carotene in broccoli than in other types of cabbage. It increases the protective properties of the body and has a positive effect on the health of the retina. Potassium contained in inflorescences has a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system, expels excess fluid from the body and reduces the risk of heart disease.

Essential amino acids, which are rich in broccoli, contribute to the production of serotonin, which positively affects the well-being of a person. Therefore, dishes from this product are indispensable for increased mental stress and chronic fatigue.

It is known that cabbage proteins contain choline, which normalizes the state of the nervous system, and also helps to lower the level of bad cholesterol and fatty acids in the blood. . Doctors note the presence of indoles in broccoli- unique substances that inhibit the growth of malignant tumors in the body. In addition, they reduce the risk of ulcerative processes in the digestive organs and fight pathogenic bacteria.

Undoubtedly, the inclusion of broccoli dishes in the diet prevents the appearance of excess weight, has a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and reduces the risk of atherosclerosis.

Medicinal properties of broccoli

Green inflorescences contain a lot of fiber, which means they help to gently cleanse the intestines and even treat chronic constipation. Vitamins and minerals in cabbage accelerate the processes of tissue regeneration in the human body, and most importantly, a small portion of the product stabilizes blood sugar levels and strengthens the walls of blood vessels, so broccoli is very useful for diabetics.

Knowing about the benefits of this type of cabbage, we can distinguish its following healing properties:

strengthening;
anticancer;
cleansing.

Steamed broccoli for a few minutes has an anti-inflammatory effect on the human body. Active components of natural origin protect tissues from the development of cancer, young vegetable inflorescences are especially useful. Vitamin C in cabbage is a powerful antioxidant, which not only positively affects the quality of the skin and hair, but also improves immunity.

Nutritionists strongly recommend including broccoli in the diet, as this vegetable is famous for its low calorie content and an abundance of coarse dietary fiber. For smooth weight loss, it is enough to eat stewed or boiled inflorescences 2 times a day, and they can also be added to salads. The plant-based protein in broccoli helps maintain muscle and alertness.

Broccoli for weight loss (video)

For women Broccoli inflorescences are a real natural cure for many ailments. For example, with mastopathy, you should definitely eat this vegetable in any form every day. For men's health the described variety of cauliflower is also useful, therefore it should not be neglected, the systematic use of a vegetable as a side dish reduces the risk of prostate cancer, and also helps to gently cleanse the body.

A healthy diet strengthens the immune system, normalizes metabolism and helps to alleviate unpleasant symptoms. Currently, preparations based on broccoli have been created, which can be purchased at a pharmacy.

What else is this amazing vegetable useful for? Since ancient times, broccoli has been used not only to maintain the health of the body, but also for the beauty of the skin and hair. Cabbage seed oil preserves the freshness of the face, prevents premature aging and treats peeling. In addition, it helps to smooth the hair and gives it shine, effective against split ends. Reviews about this product are most often positive, such a tool is no worse than industrial balms and masks.

The benefits of vegetable seeds are due to their high content of fatty acids and useful vitamins, and it is easy and pleasant to use oil.

If you want to eat broccoli for health purposes, then the best option would be a salad of tender young cabbage inflorescences. And also it can be blanched without loss of vitamins and nutritional properties. In this case, the usefulness of the product will be preserved, and its taste will remain spicy.

Possible contraindications

It is generally accepted that such cabbage cannot harm the human body. However, many people do not properly prepare the vegetable. For example, it is not recommended to use a decoction of broccoli inflorescences, since it contains guanine, which is not part of a healthy diet.

Powerful heat treatment adversely affects the quality of the vegetable, it loses vitamins and minerals, which means it becomes useless. Do not fry the broccoli too much in a large amount of oil.

With pancreatitis, you should carefully consider dishes from such cabbage. In the acute phase of the disease, it provokes the appearance of colic and bloating, since the green vegetable contains a lot of fiber. How many servings of the product per day can a person eat in this case? Doctors recommend consuming an average of 200 g of boiled broccoli daily in the form of soups, mashed potatoes or stews.. With gastritis with high acidity of gastric juice, raw broccoli inflorescences should be abandoned. Steamed cabbage dishes, as well as a boiled vegetable, will be useful in this case.

How to cook broccoli (video)

Like other vegetables, the inflorescences of this cabbage help to lose weight and maintain health in big cities. It is available to everyone, and cooking it is quite simple and fast. In order to prevent dangerous diseases, you should eat broccoli dishes once a day.

Today, broccoli can be increasingly found on the shelves of modern stores. It is very easy to recognize her. In the form of a head of cabbage, it resembles the usual cauliflower, but unlike it, it has a rich green color. This vegetable is popular with all adherents of a healthy diet. It has not only a large set of useful properties, but also excellent taste.

What are the health benefits of broccoli?

This product can rightly be called dietary. It can be safely used by those who want to lose weight. Broccoli helps to normalize metabolism, and also fights many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Thanks to the regular consumption of this vegetable, you can get rid of problems with the cardiovascular system, nervous disorders and atherosclerosis.

Recent studies by reputable scientists have shown that broccoli can prevent the formation of cancer cells in the human body. Relatively recently, the substance sulforaphane was discovered in it. It kills bacteria that cause stomach ulcers and cancer. It turned out that the highest concentration of this substance is found in broccoli sprouts.

It is extremely useful to use broccoli for people whose work is associated with exposure to increased background radiation. This type of cabbage contributes to the rapid removal of salts of heavy metals.

Broccoli contains a whole list of essential substances for humans:

1. Calcium. One hundred grams of cabbage contains about 50 milligrams of calcium. That is why it must be introduced into the diet of children. Also, this vegetable as a source of calcium should be consumed by people with lactose intolerance.
2. Phosphorus. Without this element, it is impossible to maintain the integrity of the inert structure of the body.
3. Fiber. This substance helps to cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, and also helps to eliminate bad cholesterol.
4. Potassium. To maintain health, it is imperative to ensure that the recommended dose of this substance is consumed daily. Only in this way can you ensure the correct transmission of nerve impulses, and, consequently, the normal functioning of the brain. Without a sufficient amount of potassium, muscle contractions will not occur, which will invariably lead to disturbances in the work of the heart.
5. Sodium. Most of our daily intake of this substance comes from salt. But to maintain health, sodium must enter the body in an unbound form. This is the sodium found in broccoli. This element is one of the main participants in the water-salt metabolism, therefore, without it, the proper functioning of the excretory system is impossible. In addition, sodium stimulates the digestive system.
6. Iron. This substance is responsible for the transport of oxygen in the body, as well as for the proper functioning of the endocrine glands.
7. Choline. This substance prevents harmful cholesterol from accumulating in the body, thereby reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.

Broccoli is a real storehouse of vitamins, without which it is simply impossible to maintain health:

1. B1. Thanks to him, the synthesis of ATP and the reduplication of DNA molecules are carried out.
2. B2. This substance controls the work of the adrenal glands and is involved in the formation of red blood cells.
3. B6. Without this vitamin, it is impossible to maintain the immune system, as it is involved in the formation of antibodies.
4. C. According to the content of ascorbic acid, broccoli is ahead of even citrus fruits.
5. E. This vitamin is necessary for the body to ensure the integrity of cell membranes.

For medicinal purposes, broccoli juice is used. It helps fight stomach ulcers and various diseases of the spleen. In addition, its use will help get rid of warts and wounds.

The nutritional value of broccoli and what dishes can be prepared from it?

100 grams of broccoli contains only 34 kcal. Therefore, it can be consumed in large enough quantities without fear for the figure. Moreover, in boiled cabbage, the number of kilocalories is even less, only 28. At the same time, it contains about 3 grams of protein, which in its structure resembles an animal. This vegetable also contains 7 grams of carbohydrates. But only 2 of them are sugars, the rest are complex carbohydrates, which take a long time to digest. They do not cause a large release of insulin into the blood. Fats in this variety of cabbage are completely absent.

broccoli calories: 34kcal, proteins 3g, carbohydrates 7g.

From this vegetable you can cook a lot of healthy and very tasty dishes. Young cabbage can be eaten raw. It is added to salads or used as a side dish. A tasty and healthy salad can be prepared by mixing chopped broccoli with grapefruit, walnuts and a small amount of pomegranate seeds. As a dressing, you can use a mixture of a tablespoon of bee honey and two tablespoons of wine vinegar, preferably white. In addition, a little olive oil should be added to such a dressing. So you can increase the nutritional value of the salad and saturate it with more vitamins.

If you add a little sauce to broccoli, then it can serve as a great snack. This vegetable can also be baked, boiled or fried. But it is worth remembering that during heat treatment, most of the vitamins are destroyed. This is especially true when cooking in the microwave.

One of the best ways is steam cooking. In this case, the duration of processing should not exceed five minutes. Otherwise, the cabbage becomes excessively soft and loses its taste. If you like unboiled broccoli, then it will be enough to blanch it in boiling water for a couple of minutes. After that, it should be lowered into ice water for a couple of seconds. So the cabbage turns out to be crispy and the maximum amount of vitamins is preserved in it.

Boiled broccoli can be an excellent ingredient in a variety of salads. It goes well with, for example, chicken fillet. Such a dish will contain the optimal ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The simplest recipe is a mixture of chopped chicken fillet, broccoli and a small amount of hard cheese grated on a coarse grater. Mayonnaise is great as a dressing. Only if you want the dish to be healthy and dietary, then it is best to cook mayonnaise yourself from fresh ingredients.

When can eating broccoli be dangerous?

Despite all the useful properties, this vegetable can not be consumed by everyone. So with caution, you can introduce it into your diet for people suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Refrain from such dishes and people with high acidity of the stomach.

In some cases, there may be a manifestation of individual intolerance. In this case, the use of broccoli is strictly prohibited.

A decoction obtained from broccoli can also become dangerous. It forms substances such as adenine and guanine. They can adversely affect the health of the body. That is why broccoli cannot be used to make broths.

What are the varieties of broccoli?

Modern scientists have managed to bring out several original varieties of broccoli. They differ only in appearance. The set of trace elements and vitamins in them is approximately the same. One of these innovations is kale. Unlike the usual head of cabbage, its inflorescences are not formed into one large head, but are located on a thick, strong stem.

Broccoli can be more than just green. Relatively recently, a beautiful variety has appeared that has red inflorescences. At the same time, it has the same set of vitamins and minerals as the usual cabbage. Thus, this variety of broccoli will make your dishes not only extremely healthy, but also very attractive in appearance.

For many, broccoli is associated only with the diet and is considered tasteless, dull and forced part of a healthy diet. It is not as popular with us as, for example, in the West.

But its useful, even medicinal properties are so unique that in our country it deserves a completely different attitude towards itself and widespread distribution.

The mere fact that scientists are working to create a cure for cancer based on substances contained in broccoli is worth a lot. But besides this, there is still a lot of usefulness, with the almost complete absence of contraindications, hidden in these lilac-green inflorescences.

Broccoli, unfortunately, is not as popular with us as, for example, white cabbage.

But 100 g contains almost 100% of the average daily value of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Phylloquinone (vitamin K) in 100 g of broccoli - 85% of the daily requirement.

In addition, it contains antioxidants (lutein and zeaxanthin), folic acid. Boron and silicon in it - more than 260% of the daily requirement. Broccoli has sulfur, potassium, manganese, iodine, fiber, but there is no sucrose and starch.

Only 34 kcal per 100 g with such a content of nutrients make broccoli one of the best foods for dietary nutrition.

But those who suffer from gout or kidney stones should be aware that broccoli contains purine bases (about 17% of the daily requirement in 100 g).

Cabbage against cancer cells

Not so long ago, scientists made a discovery, thanks to which broccoli gained fame as a fighter against cancer.

It was found that this cabbage contains substances that activate the immune system to fight cancer cells, stop their growth and even destroy them.

One of them is called "sulforaphane" - an organic substance that has a strong anti-cancer and antibacterial effect.

True, broccoli contains only glucoraphanin, which is converted to sulforaphane under the influence of enzymes when chewed. So the folk wisdom “The longer you chew, the longer you live” in the case of broccoli is absolutely true.

Most of this substance is found in the seeds and stems of the plant.

Broccoli against other diseases

Sulforaphane is not only an anti-cancer, but also a powerful antibacterial substance.

It effectively fights even bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Therefore, broccoli dishes are useful for stomach ulcers, gastritis, inflammatory diseases, and dysbacteriosis.

Thanks to fiber and dietary fiber, it helps with constipation.

It helps the body to remove harmful substances: from toxins to salts of heavy metals. Improves digestion, stimulating the secretion of bile, normalizing the work of the pancreas.

Broccoli is good for diabetes.

Broccoli fights excess cholesterol and prevents its accumulation in the body.

Good for cardiovascular health.

The substances contained in broccoli have a beneficial effect on the condition of the eyes, and specifically the retina and lens.

This cabbage should be included in the diet in the treatment of cataracts.

Broccoli increases the body's defenses.

Therefore, it is necessary in the diet of the weakened after illness and the elderly, pregnant women, and children.

Diet vegetables help you lose weight

Broccoli is a staple in many weight loss diets. And this is not surprising.

Low calorie content in the absence of fats and starch, the presence of fiber (which improves digestion and metabolism), a lot of protein are the characteristics of an ideal dietary product.
Broccoli contains a lot of vitamins and micro and macro elements, especially necessary for a limited diet.
Due to its composition, it has an anti-cellulite effect, and is also useful for hair, nails and skin, which usually do not have the best effect on diets.

Broccoli for women and their health

This is a product that women need not only to maintain beauty and normal weight.

It is also very useful for future mothers and their babies.

The protein contained in broccoli is a building material for muscles, and it is vital for a growing little man.

And pregnant women often cannot eat meat or fish because of changed taste preferences. Many people can't even stand their smell.

This cabbage helps maintain salt balance, and for the body of pregnant women with their frequent edema, it is very important.
A common nuisance in pregnant women is constipation.

Broccoli will help to cope with this delicate problem.

A portion of this cabbage can almost completely meet the daily need of a pregnant woman for ascorbic acid, which means strengthening her immunity and helping her resist colds.
Folic acid, iron and other substances are necessary for the normal development of the child.

And although pregnant women usually take vitamin-mineral complexes, those vitamins and minerals that are ingested with food, such as broccoli, are better absorbed.

Broccoli for kids

When the child is born and grows up a little, mothers will be able to appreciate this vegetable again.

Broccoli is ideal for the introduction of complementary foods.

It is hypoallergenic, so it is suitable for most children who try adult food for the first time.

And in baby food, the vegetable is also valued for vitamins, micro and macro elements that contribute to the growth and health of children.
Today's children are increasingly faced with the problem of being overweight. Broccoli is great for feeding these kids.

Application in cosmetology

Only in this area is valued not so much the plant itself, but the oil from its seeds.

Cold-pressed, it retains all the beneficial properties of the vegetable.

It should not be ingested - it is toxic due to the erucic acid it contains.

But it has a lot of vitamins (A, B, C, PP, E, K), it contains fatty acids, iron, magnesium, zinc, sodium, phosphorus, chlorophyll, potassium, calcium and other useful substances.

It moisturizes and nourishes the hair, making it shiny, silky and smooth. Helps repair damaged and split ends.
Broccoli oil is used for skin care of all types. It restores its protective functions, softens, nourishes, relieves irritation.

The easiest way to take advantage of the healing properties of broccoli seed oil is to add a few drops to your hair and skin care products.

Contraindications and harm: possible, if careful

It would seem that a vegetable, pleasant in all respects. And useful, and dietary, and affordable. But, unfortunately, he also has contraindications. And fortunately - they can rather be called restrictions.

Nursing mothers should include this cabbage in their diet with caution, especially in the first months of feeding.

Despite the fact that broccoli is a good source of vitamins necessary for mother and child, it can cause harm - cause gas formation in the baby, although to a lesser extent than its relative - white cabbage.

Broccoli contains purine bases - adenine and guanine, although less than, for example, cauliflower.

But when cooked, they concentrate in the broth. Therefore, broccoli soup is not the most healthy dish, and for gout, kidney stones, pregnancy and childhood, it can be eaten in small quantities. Moreover, from it you can cook more healthy and tasty dishes.

Increased acidity of the stomach and problems with the pancreas are also a reason to limit the use of this type of cabbage.

We choose, we store, we prepare correctly

Broccoli is a vivid illustration of the thesis "Food is the best medicine." To get the effect of a natural medicine, it is enough just to eat it. The most important thing is to choose, store and prepare it correctly.

Selection rules

Owners of beds with broccoli have no problem choosing a quality vegetable.

It is enough to choose not overripe cabbage, without yellowed leaves, with unopened inflorescences.

In the store, to choose really good cabbage with the maximum amount of nutrients, you need to be very careful.

The normal color of broccoli is lilac-green, gray.

Open buds, yellow leaves are a sign that this cabbage is best left on the shelf.

Naturally, the absence of mold, rot, black or brown dots is a prerequisite.
Not only the appearance speaks of the quality of broccoli: it must be strong, dense, firm.

But if you are not lucky, and you get a wilted cabbage, you can reanimate it. To do this, cut the stump and put it in fresh clean water. After a few hours, the head of cabbage will again become elastic and strong.

The fresh smell also speaks in favor of the selected instance. No musty smell, mold or rot.

Storage rules: it is better to freeze

The maximum amount of useful substances is in fresh, even freshly cut broccoli. But this ideal option is not available to everyone and not always. Therefore, it is important to save it with minimal losses.

If it needs to be stored for no more than 12 hours, then it is enough to put it in a jar or vase with clean cold water.

"Bouquet" will wait for cooking without compromising its beneficial properties.

If longer storage is expected, then the best place for this is the vegetable shelf of the refrigerator.

An unwashed vegetable should be placed in a loosely closed container or bag (paper or plastic). So broccoli can be stored for about three days, a maximum of five to seven.

If broccoli is frozen, it will retain its beneficial properties for up to 12 months.

Before freezing, it must be disassembled into inflorescences and washed thoroughly.

To get rid of possible small insect pests, the inflorescences are soaked for an hour or two in cool salt water (a tablespoon of salt per liter of water).

Then they are washed, blanched for about three minutes and quickly cooled in very cold water.

Arrange the dried cabbage in bags and send it to the freezer to wait in the wings.

Cooking rules

Cooking broccoli so that it retains its medicinal properties is not difficult. It is boiled, stewed, fried, baked.

But the maximum of useful properties is in fresh broccoli or steamed in compliance with simple but important rules.

Before use, fresh cabbage should be washed very thoroughly under running water, and then soaked in water or saline.

Harmful substances and possible insects will remain in the water.

Broccoli leaves contain more vitamins than the florets.

Therefore, if they are not yellowed, they do not need to be cut off.

Salads with broccoli are best not seasoned with lemon juice: it changes its color to an unpleasantly gray.
Steaming should take 3 minutes. 10 minutes is the maximum.

So cabbage will lose a minimum of useful vitamins. Yes, and those very anti-cancer substances, for which broccoli is especially valued, are destroyed by heat treatment.

Fast and hassle-free microwave cooking is not the same as steam cooking.

The microwave oven deprives the cabbage of the benefit for which it is cooked.

Useful recipes for the benefit of the body

Egg muffins can be prepared for breakfast for athletes, children, pregnant women.

Thanks to broccoli and eggs, they have a very high content of protein - a building material for muscles, thanks to cheese - calcium, which is necessary for bones, teeth, the cardiovascular system, and thanks to broccoli and green onions - vitamins.

So, beat 6 eggs with a whisk or a blender.
Steam one or two heads of broccoli (in a double boiler or slow cooker).
Grate 100 g hard cheese.
Chop up a bunch of green onions.

Mix everything (but not with a blender, but with an ordinary spoon), salt a little, pour into cupcake molds and bake for 10-15 minutes.

Cottage cheese and broccoli casserole is also a healthy dietary dish that contains a lot of protein, calcium and vitamins.

For it, you need to mix 200-250 g of cottage cheese, 100-200 g of broccoli, 2-3 eggs, some greens.

Break the broccoli into small florets and mix well.

Cook in a double boiler or, sprinkled with grated cheese, bake in the oven until tender.

Any salad (naturally, without mayonnaise, smoked meats and pickles), to which the “secret ingredient” is added, can become a prevention of viral diseases and even cancer. The name of this ingredient is broccoli sprouts.

The fact is that the very sulforaphane, to which broccoli owes the glory of a fighter against cancer, is concentrated in the seed of the plant. Interestingly, as the cabbage grows, it does not become more. That is, its amount is the same in a small sprout and in an adult vegetable.

Therefore, for the prevention of cancer, you can eat broccoli sprouts. What’s more, it’s not hard to get them. Seeds need to be wrapped in damp gauze and wait a few days until they germinate. Like wheat germ, oats, soybeans, they can be added to salads or other dishes.

Broccoli is not a vegetable that can be eaten by force just for its benefit.

With proper preparation, dishes from it are not only extremely healthy, easily digestible, but also very tasty.

If they are cooked correctly, they will retain the maximum benefit, become a valuable source of vitamins, micro and macro elements, and other substances that we need so much. And if broccoli dishes are included in the diet from childhood, then they will become familiar and take their rightful place in the diet of people who want to eat not only tasty, but also healthy.

In the article we talk about the health benefits of broccoli. Let's talk about the beneficial properties and use of cabbage, its effect on the human body. You will learn how to lose weight with a green vegetable, its composition and calorie content.

Broccoli or asparagus is a vegetable with densely spaced green buds. Green or purple stems and inflorescences are considered edible.

Composition and calorie content

The low calorie content of broccoli (34 kcal per 100 g) contributes to the fact that cabbage is used in the preparation of dietary dishes.

100 g of broccoli contains:

3 g proteins;
0.4 g fat;
6.7 g of carbohydrates.

Composed of:

cellulose,
beta carotene,
vitamins,
minerals (calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, iron),
alimentary fiber,
chlorophyll,
vegetable protein.

Beneficial features

Regular use strengthens the protective functions of the body, improves resistance to various infections.

Broccoli improves well-being for people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Fiber in the composition improves bowel function, removes free radicals and toxins from the body. Normalizes .

The nutrients in cabbage prevent the accumulation of cholesterol in the blood. Chromium has a positive effect on the functioning of the pancreas.

Antioxidants rejuvenate the body, improve blood composition, strengthen the heart muscle, and normalize blood pressure.

Calcium in cabbage strengthens teeth and bones. Phosphorus improves vision, lutein (a pigment with antioxidant properties) minimizes the development of eye diseases.

Healing properties normalize insulin levels. This has a positive effect on the well-being of diabetic patients.

Benefits for Women

Asparagus has a specific taste that not everyone likes, but the beneficial properties of broccoli compensate for this lack.

Regular use improves the skin, prolongs youth. Broccoli oil is widely used in the preparation of cosmetics that strengthen hair and nails.

The unique properties of cabbage provoke the production of bile, which normalizes the level of fat. This affects, reduces the appearance of cellulite, promotes weight loss.

The antioxidants in broccoli fight toxins and waste. Accumulating harmful substances in the body negatively affect the functioning of organs. Toxins provoke the occurrence of cancer.

Benefits for men

Broccoli contains elements that reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

The disease affects men over 50 years of age. Regular consumption of broccoli as a preventive measure will reduce the risk of cancer.

The components of cabbage prevent the development of atherosclerosis, and the high content of vitamin C strengthens the protective functions of the body.

For kids

The benefits of cabbage for children are:

In hypoallergenic. You can feed babies at any age.
Fiber improves bowel function, which is important for a young, emerging organism.
The high content of nutrients provides the baby with a daily dose of vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin U has an antiulcer effect.
Phytoncides contained in cabbage strengthen the immune system.

Include a green vegetable in an overweight child's diet.

Broccoli quickly saturates the body with a minimum of calories.

Nutritionists advise including broccoli in the diet for those who want to lose weight.

Arguments:

The amount of energy expended for processing is greater than the calorie content.
The level of protein in cabbage is equal to the level of protein in meat.
Broccoli restores metabolism.
Digestion improves, toxins and slags are removed from the body.
Coarse fibers and fiber improve bowel function.

Boiled or steamed broccoli in your daily diet will help you lose extra pounds. Follow the diet for 10 days.

Diversify the diet will help: boiled chicken, chicken broth, vegetable stew, tomatoes, boiled beef, dairy products, buckwheat.

In addition, add to the diet: boiled eggs, fish, a few baked potatoes. Drink up to 2 liters of water daily, green tea without sugar, tomato juice.

Give up the diet if you feel unwell, nausea, weakness.

The benefits and harms of broccoli during pregnancy

The beneficial properties of broccoli are necessary for the female body at all stages of pregnancy.

This is a prophylactic against anemia and beriberi, which women in position face. Broccoli in the diet strengthens the immune system, which protects the expectant mother from viral infections.

Serotonin (hormone of joy) improves mood, regulates sleep and appetite. Pregnant women are prone to mood swings, so you should include this vegetable in your diet.

Folic acid protects the fetus from the development of pathologies, eliminates the symptoms of postpartum depression.

Despite the benefits of using cabbage, it can harm a pregnant woman.

The reason for refusing to use is:

Allergic reaction.
Increased acidity.

Broccoli treatment

The immune-boosting and anti-cancer properties of broccoli have led doctors to call the vegetable the food of the 21st century.

Broccoli is 90% water, which means it can be consumed every day in unlimited quantities.

In addition, the vegetable quickly saturates the body, nourishes it with vitamins and other useful elements. Active ingredients are used in the treatment of various diseases.

With pancreatitis

The healing properties of cabbage are used in the treatment of pancreatitis. Soft fiber does not overload the stomach, but soothes it.

With pancreatitis, the vegetable must be properly cooked. The product is well absorbed by the body, steamed, boiled, soup-puree, as an additional ingredient in salads, casseroles.

Despite the benefit, exclude the product during an exacerbation of the disease.

Broccoli for gastritis

Magnesium is involved in metabolic processes.
Vitamin C has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Carotene restores the gastric mucosa, heals, resists the attacks of viruses.
Antioxidants heal wounds and scars.

Steam, simmer or boil the product. Heat treatment will preserve the beneficial properties of the product.

Do not eat broccoli raw.

With high and low acidity

Acidity in the stomach is an indicator of health. Digestive problems appear when the acidity is increased or decreased.

With increased acidity of the stomach, it is undesirable to use broccoli, as the patient's condition may worsen. There will be severe heartburn, stomach pain, in some cases, vomiting.

At risk are people with low acidity, which provokes the vulnerability of the body and the attack of pathogenic microflora.

Decreased acidity is the indigestion of nutrients by the stomach.

There is a weakening of the immune system, hence, various indigestion. Gastritis with low acidity occurs more often in the elderly, but there are exceptions when the young suffer.

With cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder (blockage of the bile ducts, formation of stones) provokes cholecystitis. The disease develops due to malnutrition, overeating, chronic constipation.

In treatment, doctors advise to review the usual diet, adhere to a well-designed diet, which includes vegetables, dairy products, soups, cereals. Broccoli is indicated for cholecystitis, but after heat treatment.

For diabetes

The disease provokes the occurrence of a stroke or heart attack, so it is impossible to ignore diabetes.

Broccoli is useful in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Cabbage contains proteins, vitamins and phytoncides, which have a positive effect on blood vessels.

It prevents the formation of atherosclerosis, infections that diabetics are prone to. Sulforapane (an anti-cancer component) prevents the deterioration of the cardiovascular system.

Contraindications

Broccoli harms the body if consumed fried. Carcinogens released during frying accumulate in the body and provoke serious diseases that appear over the years.

The reason for refusing to eat cabbage is:

Individual intolerance.
Diseases of the pancreas.
Gastritis with high acidity.
Ulcerative lesions.
Allergic reactions.

How to choose and store broccoli

The product is fresh and frozen sold in stores all year round. Buy cabbage at the end of summer, at the beginning of autumn.

Select broccoli based on leaf color and stem thickness. Good vegetable with green leaves and inflorescences. A thick stem, brown spots indicate the overripeness of the product. Give preference to a vegetable with a dense head of cabbage and closed buds.

When choosing, pay attention to the location of the inflorescences. Do not buy cabbage with yellow heads and open flowers. Such cabbage will not bring benefits and even spoil the taste of dishes.

After you bring your broccoli home, place it in an airtight container, arrange it in a jar as a bouquet, or wrap it in damp paper towels.

Put in the refrigerator, the faster you do this, the longer the cabbage will remain fresh and retain its taste.

Store broccoli in the refrigerator for no longer than 15 days, use the frozen product all year round.

How to freeze broccoli

Take broccoli at the height of the season, then you will not have to doubt the naturalness.

Wash under running water.
Remove all leaves.
Divide into florets about 2.5 cm across. Do not use the hard end of the stem.
Boil water, add broccoli to it for 1-2 minutes, then transfer the cabbage to ice water with the juice of half a lemon for 5 minutes.
Lay the cabbage out on a kitchen towel to dry. Arrange the inflorescences into portions, place in sealed bags and send to the freezer.

Properly frozen cabbage retains all the beneficial properties.

A close relative of cauliflower - broccoli not very long ago appeared on the vegetable counters of our country. Although in Europe this vegetable has long been very popular, especially in Italy, Spain and the UK. This dietary low-calorie product, cute in appearance, is highly valued for its beneficial properties. Therefore, lovers of broccoli dishes are people who want to be healthy and maintain a slim figure.

This type of cabbage is good in any form - it can be stewed, fried, baked and boiled. But fresh vegetable salads with the addition of broccoli and its freshly squeezed juice are especially useful.

What vitamins does broccoli cabbage contain, what are the benefits and harms to the health of the body from it, how to cook it correctly? Let's talk about it today. You will learn why nutritionists recommend including it in the diet more often, and together we will prepare a couple of delicious, healthy dishes from it:

Broccoli - the benefits and harm to the body

The benefits of broccoli

The benefits of this type of cabbage are due to its composition. Broccoli contains a wide variety of nutrients. There are vitamins there: C, PP, most of the B vitamins. There are vitamins E, K, U. In terms of the content of beta-carotene, which is very necessary for the body, it surpasses other vegetables where it is contained.

According to the composition of minerals - potassium, calcium, sodium, iron and phosphorus, broccoli is far ahead of its relative cauliflower. It also contains selenium, magnesium and zinc.

It contains dietary fiber, saccharides, acids, as well as other biologically active substances that help maintain healthy, reduce the risk of many diseases.

For example, chlorophyll, which is an important component of this cabbage, improves blood composition - it increases hemoglobin.

Broccoli contains a complex of substances necessary for the normal functioning of the heart, the functioning of the nervous system. Therefore, people with heart disease, neurological problems, it is necessary to increase its consumption.

Soft inflorescences (heads) of this type of cabbage are useful to include in the diet of people weakened by the disease, as well as those who are recovering from the treatment. Cabbage is useful for the elderly, pregnant women, nursing mothers. Doctors recommend introducing it as complementary foods to babies from 7-8 months.

This is an indispensable product for anyone who is struggling with excess weight and dieting. After all, for 100 g of the product there are only not full 30 kcal.

This type of cabbage contains kaempferol, which prevents the development of allergies, effectively fights its symptoms, reducing the negative impact of allergens on. Well, substances such as lutein and zeaxanthin improve vision, reduce the risk of developing eye diseases.

Sulforaphane, which also contains broccoli, prevents the development of microorganisms that cause gastritis and peptic ulcers. Magnesium improves heart function, improves digestion. The presence of natural, soft fiber contributes to the effective cleansing of the intestines from toxins. Thanks to choline and methonine, regular consumption of this cabbage helps to reduce cholesterol levels (distinguish between low and high density cholesterol), eliminates excess fats, and activates the secretion of bile.

Doctors have identified another very important property of the vegetable: the presence of sulforaphane in broccoli makes it a valuable prophylactic against certain types of cancer, since sulforaphane prevents the development of cancer cells.

Broccoli: how to cook broccoli correctly?

During heat treatment, more nutrients are destroyed. To preserve them, if possible, cook broccoli for no more than 5-7 minutes. If the product is frozen, then 10-12 minutes. After that, sprouts serve as a side dish for meat or fish dishes.

However, to reap the maximum health benefits, consume it raw or stewed as an ingredient in vegetable salads. As a dressing, use sour cream, olive oil, lemon juice or soy sauce.

Let's look at a very simple recipe for a very tasty, healthy salad that can be used as a side dish for meat, or as an independent dish:

Broccoli salad with garlic

Prepare the products: 6 inflorescences (heads), 1-2 small cloves of garlic, a little sunflower oil, and preferably olive oil. You also need 1 tsp of 5% wine vinegar (necessarily white), 0.5 tsp of non-bitter granular mustard, parsley, salt, ground black pepper.

How to cook:

Boil young inflorescences for 3-4 minutes, then discard in a colander. Let the water drain completely and let the cabbage cool well. Pass the garlic through the garlic press. Mix the porridge with salt. If desired, add some ground pepper. Dilute the garlic gruel with a little vegetable oil, add vinegar, put mustard. Mix well.

Transfer the broccoli heads to a salad bowl, pour over the garlic dressing, mix gently. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
Now we need parsley, the health benefits of which, not so long ago, were the topic of our conversation. So, sprinkle the finished salad with finely chopped greens and serve.

Vitamin cocktail

From fresh cabbage inflorescences, you can make a wonderful vitamin drink - a great addition to breakfast. To improve the taste, we added apple juice as a component:

To prepare two servings you will need: 6 fresh cabbages, 2 apples, 2 carrots.

Peel and wash vegetables under running water. Remove the cores from the apples with seeds. Cut everything into pieces. Grind broccoli with a blender. Transfer the puree to a pitcher.

Separately, using a juicer, squeeze the juice from chopped apples and carrots. Pour the juices into the broccoli puree, mix everything well. Pour into glasses and garnish with fresh mint leaves. The drink should be drunk immediately after preparation. During storage, it loses its useful properties.

To whom can broccoli be dangerous, what is the harm to the body from cabbage?

In general, broccoli has practically no contraindications. This vegetable is a dietary product and is useful at any age. The only prohibition to use is the existing individual intolerance to products. Such people, of course, should not use it.

For everyone else, it will bring undeniable benefits, as it helps to maintain