Broccoli ‘The Superfood’

Coming from the family of Kale, Cauliflower, Cabbage etc, is named this way due to quantify of proprieties that it contains:

• Rich in Vitamin C. 100 grams of this product exceeds our daily dose of Vitamin C.
• Rich in Folic Acid, which is very important for pregnant women as it prevents Spina Bifida for happening to the foetus.
• Big quantity of soluble and insoluble fibre that carries Cholesterol, aiding the prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases.
• Rich in Beta-carotenes that are precursors of Vitamin A, which are essential for eyesight.
• Is the food with the highest quantity of Lutein and prevents macular degeneration, which causes blindness in people aged 50 and over as well as preventing cataracts and diseases of the retina.

But what is it that makes it really stand out and named a superfood?

The fact that is rich in a number of substances named Phytochemicals, which include Thiocyanates and Flavonoids, among others.

How do these compounds act?

These compounds act as powerful anti-inflammatories, and producers of enzymes that block cancerous substances.

Thus Broccoli acts against Lung, Prostate, Breast, and Uterine Cancer, as well as cancers that affect the digestive tube such as Oesophagus, Liver and Pancreatic cancer.

Lastly, I want to end this article by saying that broccoli is a hypocaloric food, that 100 grams contains only 26 calories which aids in weight loss diets and that the best way of cooking it is steamed where it preserves all its proprieties. 

Dr. J Hurtado Martínez

Medical Director of HealthSalus