Broccoli
There’s a lot of attention given to foods that may help boost our immune systems. Sometimes they are referred to as ‘Superfoods’. While there’s no legal definition of a Superfood, scientific research has discovered many beneficial nutrients in certain ‘everyday’ foods we enjoy. One of these is Brocolli.
Apparently the word broccoli comes from the Italian plural of broccolo, which refers to “the flowering top of a cabbage. I suppose they looks somewhat similar, so it’s probably no surprise to you that broccoli shares many of the health benefits attributed to other cruciferous vegetables like kale and cabbage.
A fully functioning immune system is one of the most vital aspects of a healthy body, helping to prevent and combat disease. However in many people, the immune system does not function as effectively as it should.
Exposure to potentially toxic substances in food, water, air, dietary deficiencies, use of prescription and over-the-counter medications, and other lifestyle practices can result in a level of oxidative stress to our bodies that prompt our inflammatory system to work in overdrive.
In some people this combination of inadequate detoxification, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress put them at greater risk for developing cancer.
Broccoli, out of all vegetables, stands out as the most concentrated source of the antioxidants vitamin C, and carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene.
The unique combination of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification components in broccoli make it a pretty interesting food in terms of cancer research. Studies are strongest in showing decreased risk of prostate cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Recent research has also provided us with a much better idea about the amount of broccoli that we need to lower our cancer risk. At the lower end of the spectrum, it looks like just a 1/2 cup of broccoli per day (only 22 calories) is enough to provide some measurable benefits. Few people have broccoli on a daily basis. But a 2 cup serving twice a week would still meet this minimum average amount. It’s good to remind ourselves how little this amount actually is, within the context of our week’s food.
So dig out your favourite broccoli recipe and get cooking!