Broccoli is popular due to the huge amount of useful substances that it contains. Most often it is used in food, but it has found its application in cosmetology. Despite the great benefits to the body, there are some contraindications.
Calories and chemical composition of broccoli
This cabbage is considered a low-calorie, and therefore dietary product. In 100 g of fresh or boiled product, there are only 34 kcal., during frying, the energy value is increased to 46 kcal by adding oil for frying. But at the same time the composition of broccoli affects the amount of vitamins and other useful elements. 
Most of all it contains vitamins of groups PP, B, as well as A, E and C. Thanks to the latter, it has excellent antioxidant properties. Also found in it are minerals such as chromium, boron, iodine, copper, manganese, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, calcium. Broccoli has 2.8 g of protein (more than any other cabbage) and 7 g of carbohydrates, and carotene is present.
Did you know? Broccoli is an annual plant, a type of cauliflower. The same parts are consumed as cauliflower, but broccoli is considered more nutritious and has a better taste.
Broccoli protein is rich in various amino acids that prevent the development of a number of diseases, as well as support the work of the whole organism. therefore protein of this type of cabbage is comparable to meat protein.
The benefits of broccoli cabbage for the body
Since the vegetable contains many beneficial substances that, when interacting with each other, produce an additional positive effect, it has a wide range of healing properties.
Potassium is responsible for the removal of excess water and salts, phosphorus and calcium normalize brain and bone tissue, and iron and cobalt contribute to blood formation. Supports the endocrine system, thyroid function iodine. Broccoli for weight loss is used not only because of its low calorie content, but also due to its prophylactic effect - it prevents cellulite. By the way, the amount of carotene in broccoli exceeds the amount of this substance in carrots.
A huge amount of vitamins E and C saves the body from free radicals. B vitamins help maintain the nervous system, phytoncides prevent the reproduction of various fungi and pathogenic bacteria. Toxins and slags from the body are derived due to the huge amount of fiber in the vegetable. It has been proven that as a preventive measure, broccoli should be used to prevent the development of atherosclerosis, to improve the activity of the heart, and to slow down the aging process in the body.
Did you know? It is believed that broccoli comes from the regions of Asia Minor and the Mediterranean, but as a cultivated plant, it was grown in ancient Rome. This tradition of growing broccoli has spread throughout Europe and the world. Especially popular vegetable acquired in Italy and France. He settled down in America, but in cooking began to be used only at the beginning of the last century.
Vegetable is also used in the treatment of cataracts and for the prevention of ophthalmologic diseases. In particular, its beneficial substances have a beneficial effect on the retina, its lens.
Effective broccoli in the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. It is included in the diet of people who have had infectious diseases, as well as suffering from flatulence, dysbiosis. As a prophylactic agent, a vegetable is used to prevent heart attacks, strokes, to improve digestion, appetite, and normalize the flow of bile, growth, and skin condition.
How to choose broccoli when buying
Today, in stores, broccoli can be bought both fresh and frozen. Frozen is a little inferior in useful properties of fresh, but you also need to choose it carefully. So, the vegetable must be firm, have a dark green, even slightly purple color. Make sure that all the buds on it are tightly closed, otherwise the vegetable is considered overripe. The heading should be free from rot, yellowness, stains and other damage. The smell of broccoli should have a fresh aroma.
Important! On the shelves of shops most often you can find this type of broccoli, as calabrese. It looks like an umbrella on a thick stalk. Above is a dense green inflorescence. Sometimes you can find so-called asparagus or Italian broccoli. It produces thin stems, on which small inflorescences of green or purple color are placed.
How to store broccoli
To cabbage as long as possible to keep nutrients, it must be properly stored. To do this, the vegetable is placed in an airtight container and put in the refrigerator. So it can be stored no more than a week.
If there is a desire to freeze broccoli, the inflorescences must be sorted, disassembled, washed, folded into a bag or a special vessel, and put in a freezer. Frozen cabbage can be stored no more than six months.
The benefits of broccoli in the fight against cancer
In addition to vitamins E and C, which work as antioxidants, sulforaphane is found in cabbage, which allows broccoli to be used in the fight against prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. And Japanese scientists claim that this substance fights skin cancer perfectly. American scientists found out during experiments that it is necessary to eat two broccoli dishes a day to effectively combat the disease.
Broccoli also contains sinegrin and indole-3-carbin, which also effectively fight the disease. The first does not allow cancer cells to multiply, and the second improves the ability of the immune system to fight cancer. Thus, the joint action of these two components helps to completely overcome the disease.
Summarizing all developments in this area, the World Cancer Research Foundation recommended using broccoli for the treatment of cancer of the esophagus, stomach, urinary system, lung, larynx, rectum, pancreas.
Broccoli during pregnancy
Given the huge amount of useful and nutrients, the vegetable should be included in the diet of pregnant women. In addition, broccoli is recommended for normalization of metabolism. This low-calorie product allows you to not gain excess weight, although it contains a large amount of protein. The latter is very necessary for future mothers - there are a lot of proteins in it that are necessary for the formation of all organs and body systems of the baby.
Broccoli contains more vitamin C than lemon. It also has a huge amount of chlorophyll, which has a positive effect on blood composition and immunity. The latter is very important for a pregnant woman. Even the most minor diseases can lead to deviations in the formation of the child's body.
In this cabbage a huge amount of folic acid and B vitamins that accumulate in the body. And their presence is very important for the formation of the hematopoietic system in a child, as well as his nervous system. It is known that a lack of folic acid can provoke mental retardation, cerebral hernia, microcephaly. This cabbage is especially recommended for anemia because it is very rich in iron.
Due to such a huge amount of nutrients, doctors recommend increasing the amount of broccoli in the diet at the planning stage of pregnancy. This will help to balance the salt composition, the number of micro and macro elements in the body, replenish it with vitamins, strengthen the immune system, improve the composition of the blood. Broccoli promotes good digestion, which is also important during pregnancy, which is often accompanied by constipation.
Important! One of the biggest values of broccoli is high protein content. One hundred grams of this cabbage contains more protein than the same amount of beef. At the same time, there is practically no fat in the vegetable.
How to use broccoli in cosmetology
The mere inclusion of broccoli in the diet will saturate the skin with beneficial substances, give it elasticity and radiant appearance. But in cosmetology, cabbage is used for putting on masks, wrappings and other procedures.
Vegetable juice is also used separately in various face skin care products. It protects it from ultraviolet radiation, relieves inflammation, stimulates the skin’s defense mechanisms, and increases detoxification reactions.
The juice of this cabbage has an excellent effect on the hair. Thanks to vitamins A, E, ascorbic acid, fatty acids, microelements, it nourishes the hair with all necessary, gives them a healthy shine and strength. He creates a protective sheath around the hair that smoothes them, prevents electrification, transforms the split ends. At the same time, the hair does not become heavier, they are soaked with everything necessary.
It is readily used in cosmetology broccoli oil, which is extracted from vegetable seeds. Unfortunately, because of the high content of erucic acid, it cannot be consumed inside, but the use for hair has proven to be effective: they become soft, shiny, not confused. Oil not only nourishes the hair and skin, it also perfectly moisturizes them, quickly absorbed and does not leave behind the fat content.
Application in nutrition: the use of broccoli for weight loss
It is believed that a number of components that are contained in cabbage, help to improve and speed up carbohydrate and fat metabolism. For example, chlorophyll in combination with B vitamins improves the body's absorption of carbohydrate energy. This means that in the process of movement a person in whose diet there is broccoli, spends more calories. The presence of a large amount of fiber helps naturally and painlessly clean the intestines, increase the speed of digestion.
But at the same time several myths are associated with broccoli, which are actively used in the description of its useful properties. For example, this type of cabbage is sometimes called a product with a negative calorie content. That is, it is believed that the body spends more energy on the assimilation of a vegetable than the product itself can give. However, the only thing that science has proven - is a low calorie content in the plant.
Another common myth is that broccoli supposedly speeds up metabolism at the cellular level. In general, we can agree with this statement, since the chemical composition of the vegetable is really capable of such effects.
But the main benefit of broccoli in the field of nutrition is a huge amount of fiber with a low calorie content. That is, at the expense of broccoli, it is possible to reduce the caloric content of servings, while maintaining their volume. However, a large increased amount of fiber will help cleanse the body.
Who is not recommended to use broccoli
Having understood what is the use of broccoli, it is worth considering the reverse side of the use of this product. It’s not even the case that with poor sanitization, along with raw vegetables, you can carry the E. coli into the body, which is very dangerous, for example, during pregnancy. Raw broccoli should be used very carefully for people with impaired pancreatic functions and high acidity. In the postoperative period in some cases it is impossible to use foods with a high content of fiber, which include broccoli.
In addition, some people may be allergic to broccoli. Therefore, if you are prone to allergic reactions, try to eat a little vegetable first. Harm broccoli lies in its broth, which is rich in purine compounds. It is dangerous for arthritis, arthrosis, gout, as it can cause exacerbations.
In addition, if broccoli is fried in oil and high heat, not only the many beneficial properties of the vegetable are lost, but also a large number of carcinogens are formed. They also cause severe damage to the body.
Therefore, if you want your body to receive a significant amount of nutrients from broccoli, if you use it for prevention or as an adjunct to the treatment of specific diseases, try to eat only the raw product. The vegetable is not stored in the refrigerator for long, but freezing will prolong the shelf life with the preservation of useful substances. So you can always organize yourself a high vitamin and healthy product on the table.
