The REAL reasons you should eat your broccoli!
Thursday 27 August 2009
For most of us, the word broccoli conjures up childhood memories of pushing soggy little trees around the side of your dinner plate, while Mum shouts that if you don’t eat it you wont grow big and strong - neither will you get jelly for pudding.
Confiscating your jelly was probably a bit mean, but as far as broccoli being good for you goes... Mum was quite right. 
Never believed HER? Then believe US…
High in vitamins:
You’ve probably been told at some point, when feeling a bit under the weather, eat oranges and drink orange juice because it’s high in vitamin C. What you might not know is that you’d actually be better off chomping on broccoli trees.
Broccoli actually provides more than double the amount of vitamin C per calorie as oranges. One serving can provide you with your entire recommended daily allowance of vitamin C to ward of those nasty winter sniffles.
Healthy cells:
Broccoli is an important source of folic acid. This helps the body form healthy red blood cells, prevents heart disease and - most important for mummies-to-be - helps prevent birth defects.
This wonder-vegetable also contains vitamin A as well as C, which are ideal for creating and maintaining beautiful new skin cells for that envious glowing complexion.
Great for dieting:
Broccoli not only provides you with all this goodness, but does it with very little calories involved. There’s a mere 30 calories in one cup of broccoli (that’s two florets by the way.)
Broccoli also provides a boost of fibre in every serving to keep you feeling full - perfect to curb those dangerous hunger pangs.
Helps fight cancer:
Studies have shown that a chemical contained in broccoli, called sulphoraphane, can spark hundreds of genetic changes - activating some genes that fight cancer and switching off other that fuel tumours.
Quite amazing, no?
Up on the Organics:
Broccoli is among the foods found to be the least contaminated with pesticides (along with asparagus, avocados and bananas), so you can generally eat it without that added worry.
If you want to make sure you’re choosing the best broccoli, choose tightly compacted flower clusters, avoiding wilted, yellow or dirty heads.
By Leanne Rice