broccoli (Photo credit: wanko)
Talk about a super food!
Broccoli is high in fiber, vitamin c, vitamin A, carotenoids, calcium, and folic acid.
The isothiocynanatesin in broccoli stimulate the liver to break down pesticides and other carcinogens. (colon cancer)
Cruciferous vegetables contain sulforaphane which is said to not only prevent changes that can lead to cancer in breast cells, but also has been found to stop the growth of malignant breast cells by stopping the cancer cell’s ability to divide. A famous John Hopkins study in 1992 found that broccoli helped prevent the growth of tumors, and reduced the size of the tumors that did grow by up to 75%.
Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) help to remove excess estrogens from your body. See the Warning under Soy to learn why this is important.
Broccoli also contains alpha-lipoic acid, or A.L.A. which strengthens cell metabolism of liver and heart cells making them better able to withstand our abuse.
Broccoli is high in magnesium. Magnesium deficiency is linked to eye sight problems, bone loss, heart disease, colon cancer, and even MS.
Broccoli also contains indole-3-carbinol which makes it harder for estrogen to bind to breast tissue which reduces monthly type breast pain.
BUT – broccoli must be exposed to heat to release the indole-3-carbinol, which is a disappointment to us – we like it raw. Place in the microwave with just the water left on it from washing for just a couple of minutes. Eat immediately.
Do not over cook. There’s nothing worse than mushy broccoli.
Broccoli Spouts
Even more power packed than regular broccoli, and they don’t have to be cooked to release their powerful chemical compounds. They contain a huge amount of the cancer fighting compound sulforaphane.
Could broccoli be the next natural cancer vaccine?
Watch for a great warm broccoli recipe tomorrow!
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