Broccolini

Broccoli is a cabbage family vegetable grown for its nutritious flower heads. Its green or purple florets have been known for several noteworthy, unique phyto-nutrients that are found to have disease prevention and health promoting properties.

Baby broccoli's nutrition and flavor have astounded dieters and chefs alike. Sweet baby broccoli is actually a unique blend of chinese kale and broccoli. This marriage gives the baby broccoli the nutritional benefits of both as well as a unique flavor more appealing to most palates. Learn more below about how baby broccoli can help you lose weight and fight cancer.

Broccolini contains high levels of both calcium and vitamin k, both of which are important for bone health and prevention of osteoporosis.

Broccolini is helpful in repairing skin damage thanks to the glucoraphanin it contains which helps the skin to detoxify and repair itself.

One cup of broccolini bolsters the immune system with a large dose of beta-carotene. Trace minerals, such as zinc and selenium, further act to strengthen immune defense actions.

Broccoli is one of the very low calorie vegetables; provides just 34 calories per 100 g. Nevertheless, it is rich in dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and anti-oxidants that have proven health benefits. Total antioxidant strength measured in terms of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (orac) of broccoli is 1632 amol te/100 g.

Fresh broccoli is a storehouse of many phyto-nutrients such as thiocyanates, indoles, sulforaphane, isothiocyanates and flavonoids like beta-carotene cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zea-xanthin. Studies have shown that these compounds by modifying positive signaling at molecular receptor levels help protect from prostate, colon, urinary bladder, pancreatic, and breast cancers.

Fresh vegetable is exceptionally rich source of vitamin-c. Provides 89.2 mg or about 150% of rda per 100 g. Vitamin-c is a powerful natural anti-oxidant and immune modulator, helps fight against flu causing viruses.

Further, it contains very good amounts of another anti-oxidant vitamin, vitamin-a. 100 g fresh head provides 623 iu or 21 % of recommended daily levels. Together with other pro-vitamins like beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and zea-xanthin, vitamin a helps maintain integrity of skin and mucus membranes. Vitamin a is essential for healthy eye-sight and helps prevent from macular degeneration of the retina in the elderly population.

Broccolini contains glucoraphanin, which with the body processes into the anti-cancer compound sulforaphane. This compound rids the body h. Pylori, a bacterium found to highly increase the risk of gastric cancer. Furthermore, broccoli contains indole-3-carbinol, a powerful antioxidant compound and anti-carcinogen found to not only hinder the growth of breast, cervical and prostate cancer, but also boosts liver function.

Broccolini is high in fiber, which aids in digestion, prevents constipation, maintains low blood sugar, and curbs overeating. Furthermore, a cup of broccoli has as much protein as a cup of rice or corn with half the calories.

Studies have shown that the carotenoid lutein helps prevent age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, as well as possesses anti-cancer effects. Additionally, broccoli is a good source of vitamin a that is needed to form retinal, the light-absorbing molecule that is essential for both low-light and color vision.

The carotenoid lutein may also slow down or prevent the thickening of arteries in the human body, thus fighting against heart disease and stoke. The b6 and folate in broccoli also reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.

Broccoli leaves (green tops) are an excellent source of carotenoids and vitamin a; (provide 16000 iu of vitamin a per 100 g) contain these compounds, several times greater than that in their flower-heads.

Fresh heads are an excellent source of folates; contain about 63 ag/100 g (provides 16% of rda). Studies have shown that consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits rich in folates during pre-conception, and pregnancy helps prevent neural tube defects in the offspring.

This flower vegetable is rich source of vitamin-k; and b-complex group of vitamins like niacin (vit b-3), pantothenic acid (vit.b-5), pyridoxine (vit.b-6), and riboflavin. The flower heads also have some amount of omega-3 fatty acids.

Furthermore, it is also a good source of minerals like calcium, manganese, iron, magnesium, selenium, zinc and phosphorus.

Broccolini contains a high amount of potassium, which helps maintain a healthy nervous system and optimal brain function, as well as promotes regular muscle growth.

Along with a high amount of potassium, broccolini also contains magnesium and calcium that help regulate blood pressure.

Ne cup of broccolinicontains the rda of vitamin c, an antioxidant necessary for fighting against free radicals. Moreover, vitamin c is an effective antihistamine for easing the discomfort of the common cold.