Why You Should Eat Raw Broccoli

Why You Should Eat Raw Broccoli

Broccoli is a member of the vegetable family of crucifers, together with cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. Incorporating broccoli into food carries many potential health benefits already established by the scientific community, while others are still under investigation. Eating raw broccoli instead of cooked can help preserve its nutritional value.

Raw or cooked

Certain methods of food preparation can cause vegetables to lose some of their nutritional value. Much of the content of phytochemicals, vitamins and minerals can be lost during cooking. Phytochemicals are compounds present in plants, responsible for fighting diseases in the body.

The more water used to cook broccoli, the more water-soluble vitamins will be lost. Therefore, eating raw broccoli will ensure the conservation of nutrients that would otherwise be lost during preparation. Anyway, if you want to cook broccoli, steam it, using as little water as possible in order to limit the vitamin loss.

Fibers, vitamins and minerals

Vitamin C is often associated with citrus foods; however, a serving of broccoli contains 60 percent of the recommended daily intake value for a 2,000-calorie diet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half a cup of broccoli contains the following recommended daily values โ€‹โ€‹of other nutrients: 4 percent of daily fiber, 20 percent of vitamin A, 2 percent of calcium and 2 percent of iron.

Chemists who fight cancer

When you chew or cut broccoli, it releases a type of chemical present in the food, called glucosinolate. This element gives broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables their bitter or spicy taste. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, glucosinalates are powerful carcinogens that neutralize the substances that cause cancer before they can damage healthy cells.

Incorporating broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables into your diet can help prevent cancers of the breast, colon, lung and prostate. While these vegetables are, in general, known for their action against carcinogens, your DNA will influence the extent to which broccoli will protect your body from cancer. For the benefits of cruciferous vegetables to be effective, the Linus Pauling Institute recommends the intake of at least five servings per week.

Convenience

If your diet does not include enough fruits and vegetables so far, then filling your fresh broccoli refrigerator may be convenient.Raw broccoli tastes good, although the same can not be said of all vegetables; It is also easy to transport, which makes it a healthy and adequate snack. If you rinse it before an exit, you will not need to keep it cold or warm it in the microwave to enjoy it during the trip. At home, if you do not have enough time to prepare a healthy side dish, simply wash the raw broccoli to eat.

Video Tutorial: Raw vs. Cooked Broccoli.

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