Fans of a healthy diet will be interested to know what benefits and harm broccoli brings to the body. Does cabbage have useful properties, what is it used for, are there any contraindications for its use?

The chemical composition, nutritional value and calorie content of broccoli

Asparagus cabbage (also called broccoli) is considered a universal product that can be used for cooking every day. It provides the body with the maximum amount of healthy substances.

The composition of broccoli includes:

  • vitamin complex (A, C, E, K, PP, U, group B);
  • volatile;
  • omega-3, beta-carotene, serotonin;
  • sulforaphane - an organic compound that destroys bacteria that not all antibiotics cope with;
  • dietary fiber, fiber;
  • micro and macro elements (copper, cobalt, iron, potassium, iodine, chromium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, selenium).

By the number of certain groups of vitamins, cabbage is significantly superior to other products. For example, if you eat 100 g of broccoli every day, the body will receive a daily intake of vitamin K and C. Vitamin A in this portion is 390 mcg (at a rate of 900 mcg per day).

Cabbage is 85 - 90% water, about 3% in its composition - proteins, 6 - 7% - carbohydrates, 0.5% - fats. The high protein content and nutritional value make broccoli a good substitute for meat and eggs.

There is a low calorie content of broccoli - 34 kcal per 100 g. Therefore, such cabbage is successfully used for cooking diet foods.

Broccoli: Health Benefits

Asparagus cabbage is advised to be regularly taken by people who have digestive and heart problems, as well as to strengthen the nervous system and prevent other diseases.

How does broccoli work:

  1. Stimulates the intestines, prevents the development of disorders, dysbiosis.
  2. Destroys pathogenic bacteria in the stomach that cause ulcers or gastritis.
  3. Cleanses the body of toxins, carcinogens, reduces the risk of developing cancerous tumors.
  4. Normalizes the level of insulin in the blood.
  5. Strengthens blood vessels, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
  6. Improves appetite.
  7. Increases immunity.
  8. Helps normalize cholesterol levels.
  9. Strengthens bone tissue, improves the condition of hair, skin.
  10. Improves vision, reduces the risk of developing eye pathologies.
  11. Increases stress tolerance.

You must admit that such a wide range of useful features is impressive.

Benefit for men

For representatives of the stronger sex, broccoli cabbage has special properties:

  • prostate cancer prevention;
  • improved sperm composition;
  • acceleration of tissue renewal (after injuries, cuts);
  • increased potency;
  • prevention of atherosclerosis;
  • increased bone strength.

What is useful for women

The beautiful half of humanity must take care of their health and attractiveness.

Broccoli will help in this, because she:

  • improves condition of nails, hair;
  • makes the skin radiant, inhibits the aging process, removes cellulite;
  • struggling with excess weight;
  • reduces the risk of breast cancer, tumors of the reproductive system;
  • prevents the development of viral diseases of the female genital organs.

Many people consider the taste of broccoli not too pleasant. But cabbage is superior to other products in its accessibility and value for male and female health.

Can Raw Broccoli Be Used?

The best way to preserve all the vitamins and nutrients in the composition of the vegetable is to cook raw cabbage dishes. Vitamin salads are especially good for your health. Only people with gastritis should refrain from such food.

They are better off choosing other methods of preparing such a product:

  • cook broccoli (no more than 5 minutes);
  • stew;
  • to steam;
  • bake.

Doctors do not recommend using the long process of processing cabbage (when frying, in the microwave), because then the beneficial properties of broccoli are reduced, but carcinogens that are dangerous for the body may appear.

You can freeze cabbage in the winter to have a healthy product for vitamin soups and main dishes.

During pregnancy and lactation

Unlike many products that are not recommended for women in special situations, broccoli has no contraindications during pregnancy. Cabbage supplies the female body with the necessary supply of vitamins, minerals and useful compounds, which ensure the normal development of the fetus and the health of the mother.

The benefits of broccoli for the body during pregnancy:

  1. Improves the balance of the nervous system. The product calms, improves mood, reduces susceptibility to stress.
  2. Prevents the development of vitamin deficiency and anemia. The optimal chemical composition provides the body with everything necessary.
  3. Increases resistance to infections, strengthens the immune system. Using sulforaphane, which is part of cabbage, you can get rid of pathogenic bacteria during the disease. It acts as an antibiotic, which in a special situation is not recommended.
  4. Improves digestion, contributes to the normal functioning of the intestine. Broccoli is an excellent remedy for constipation, which often appears in pregnant women.
  5. Promotes the normal development of the fetus. Folic acid and protein are essential components for building the child’s nervous and skeletal system.

One month after the birth of the baby, broccoli can be introduced into the diet of a nursing mother.

This product will help a woman get stronger and get rid of the symptoms of postpartum depression.

Cabbage has hypoallergenic characteristics, therefore it is safe for babies. Manifestations of allergies are possible only if the child has an individual intolerance to the product.

The use of cabbage in cosmetology

The beneficial properties of the vegetable make women look especially attractive. From broccoli sprouts, an extract is obtained that is used to improve the condition of the skin. And the oil from the seeds of asparagus cabbage helps eliminate problems with hair and delicate facial skin. Vitamins and fatty acids have a nutritious effect.

Features of the action of broccoli in cosmetics:

  • hydration;
  • fast absorption without greasy shine;
  • protection against harmful radiation (ultraviolet, gas contamination);
  • reduction in the number of fine wrinkles;
  • renewal, removal of peeling of the skin;
  • elimination of inflammation, redness;
  • facilitating combing hair;
  • creating the effect of hair shine and skin radiance.

In cosmetology, there are many products that contain broccoli oil. Shampoos, lotions and hair styling products, creams, tonics, emulsions for the skin, lip balms - all of them help make a woman even more attractive.

How to lose weight with broccoli

Low calorie content and high energy value make this type of cabbage an ideal product for those who want to lose weight.

The arguments of this statement include the special characteristics of broccoli for weight loss:

  1. Cabbage provides a feeling of satiety, while calories a person consumes little.
  2. The beneficial serotonin present in the vegetable improves mood and energizes, which helps losing weight people do not give up on the way to the desired goal.
  3. Fiber cabbage stimulates metabolic processes in the body. Thus, toxins are eliminated faster, carbohydrates are absorbed, excess calories disappear.

The protein found in broccoli has a particularly rich and healthy composition. Nutritionists equate it in value and nutrition to meat. A person on a diet will get everything you need without eating meat.
To get the maximum effect in the form of a slim body, it is worth using 10-day courses of dietary nutrition. Broccoli is best boiled or steamed. In addition, you need to add low-calorie foods to the diet and drink plenty of fluids. If during the diet there is a deterioration in well-being and weakness, it is worth abandoning it.

Contraindications and possible harm

Broccoli can be eaten by men, women and children.

But at the same time, the vegetable under discussion also has contraindications for consumption:

  • hypersensitivity, intolerance;
  • pathology of the pancreas, pancreatitis;
  • increased acidity with gastritis;
  • stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers;
  • thyroid disease;
  • prohibition of a doctor with a special diet after surgery;
  • allergic reactions to the product.

In order for the cabbage to bring maximum benefits, it is necessary to properly prepare it.

Doctors categorically prohibit the use of broths based on cabbage. If broccoli is cooked for more than 5 minutes, nitrogenous toxins (adenine and guanine) are released.

Nutritionists recommend broiling broccoli over low heat and not using a lot of oil. This will protect the body from harmful carcinogens released during frying. Accumulating, they cause serious illness.

The use of broccoli in the diet, subject to the rules of cooking, will saturate the body, provide it with the maximum amount of nutrients and improve health.

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