Broccoli boosts heart health, strengthens bones and aids the brain
Rich in vitamins C and K, folate and calcium, broccoli offers benefits for immunity, bones, heart and brain health, studies show
Broccoli, the vegetable that resembles a cauliflower, is packed with nutrients. It contains vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and calcium among other natural components. Including it in daily meals can help improve immunity, bone health and heart health.
Vitamin C boosts the body's immunity and is also useful for the skin. Vitamin K, on the other hand, is considered an essential nutrient for bones. Besides these, broccoli also contains folate, calcium and phosphorus. This is why it features regularly in various diet plans, from weight loss to balanced eating. Broccoli is a low-calorie vegetable, yet it is considered especially beneficial for health because of the many important nutrients it contains.
About 100 grams of broccoli provides nearly 91 percent of the body's daily vitamin C requirement and about 77 percent of the daily vitamin K requirement. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant in the body, strengthening immunity, and the vegetable is also beneficial for skin health. Its fibre content helps keep digestion in good order. Because it is low in calories and high in nutritional value, broccoli is also considered useful for weight control. Including broccoli in a balanced diet helps the body get essential nutrients.
Broccoli is also considered beneficial for heart health. Some studies have found that its nutrients and compounds help reduce certain risk factors linked to heart disease. These studies have shown that people who eat broccoli regularly have lower levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol, and triglycerides. High LDL cholesterol and elevated triglycerides are considered important factors linked to the risk of heart disease.
The vitamin K and calcium in broccoli also play an important role in strengthening bones. Getting adequate amounts of these through a daily balanced diet helps maintain bone strength. Broccoli also contains phosphorus, zinc and vitamins A and C, which are useful for overall health as well as bone health.
According to some studies, eating broccoli also benefits brain health. Natural compounds found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli may be beneficial for brain health. In this way, broccoli is considered a useful vegetable for the health of the bones, heart and brain alike.
