Broccoli Nutritional Value Benefits

The nutrition facts for the cruciferous family are becoming more recognized because people are starting to learn about their positive health benefits. Broccoli is the most popular member of the cruciferous vegetable family and is the second most nutritious, following swiss chard. Eventhough it's available throughout the year, it's the most tender, and tastes best, during the colder months.Besides tasting great and being packed with nutrients, it's ideal if you're trying to lose or keep off weight because there's only 44 calories per cup.

Furthermore, it's a great source for vitamins A and C that are high in antioxidants. Like the rest of the cruciferous vegetable family, broccoli is loaded with sulfer compounds that help your body fight harmful substances.These comounds in broccoli help your body produce enzymes that fight toxins, that can damage your cells and create cancer, by mutating your DNA. Sulphorophane and isiothiocyanates are some of the compounds, also known as phytonutrients, that can help prevent cancer.Vitamin C is also great for helping your body absorb calcium, which broccoli is high in both, adding it's ability to promote Broccoli nutritional benefits healthy bones to it's list of health benefits.Additional broccoli health benefits include: It helps with your digestion because it's phytonutrients kill stomach bacterium, prevent ulcers and stomach cancer. It helps you maintian your vision because of phytonutrients, lutein and zeaxanthing, which are both heavily concentrated on the lens of the eye. It helps promote healthy pregnancy because it helps your baby's nervous system develop properly because of the high concentration of folic acid. Folic acid helps promote healthy cellular division and DNA synthesis. Hopefully you learned a little bit more about cruciferous vegetables and how broccoli's nutrition facts have a lot of healthy benefits that can improve your life.