Broccoli: The Flower with Power!

July 21, 4:51 PMNY Women's Health ExaminerAmy Capetta

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Flowers can make life so much prettier! (Churl: Flickr)

The next time you’re deciding which green to add to your plate (notice that I had assumed you are eating a veggie each day…hint, hint!) do yourself a favor and go for the floral looking vegetable. Why? Because it’s one of the best things to eat on the entire planet!

It can ward off cancer: Let’s see, we'll start off with the biggest plus first. Aside from containing protein, fiber, potassium, calcium, Vitamin A and C, folate and magnesium, broccoli is a fantastic source of a group of anticancer phytochemicals called isothiocyanates, which fight cancer by neutralizing carcinogens, chemicals which cause that dreadful “c” word.

It can heal your tummy: A recent study conducted in Japan suggests that eating two-and-a-half ounces of broccoli sprouts daily for two months may protect the body from a rampant stomach bug that can cause gastritis, ulcers and possibly even stomach cancer.

It can scare away Father Time: This year, researchers at the University of California-Los Angeles discovered that sulforaphane, a phytonutrient in broccoli, contains hundreds of vital nutrients and activates antioxidant pathways at the cellular level. In plain English…broccoli may have the power to rejuvenate the immune system and be the best anti-aging veggie on supermarket shelves today! This study was recently published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and some nutritional experts believe this news will encourage more research on this ultra-nutritious veggie.