Broccoli cabbage: benefits and harms, medicinal properties, composition

The benefits and harms of broccoli are dependent on the health status and the amount consumed. In order for a vegetable to benefit the body, you need to study the features and rules for using broccoli.

Chemical composition of broccoli cabbage

The unusual green inflorescences of cabbage contain a large amount of nutrients. In particular, the composition contains:

  • vitamin K - about 85% of the daily value;
  • vitamins of subgroup B - from B1 to B9, only B12 is absent in cabbage;
  • ascorbic acid - almost 100% of the daily value;
  • vitamin A and beta-carotene;
  • choline substance;
  • vitamins E, PP and H;
  • silicon - more than 260% of the daily dosage;
  • dietary fiber and natural sugars;
  • amino acids;
  • potassium, phosphorus and manganese;
  • iodine, selenium and zinc;
  • magnesium and iron;
  • calcium;
  • fatty acid.

Broccoli contains a lot of ascorbic acid and silicon

Most cabbage contains carbohydrates - about 4 g in the total volume of the product. The share of proteins is 2.8 g, and fats take only 0.4 g.

The calorie content of fresh cabbage is 34 calories per 100 g. The benefits of broccoli for women when dieting are highly valued, it is impossible to gain extra pounds on the product.

Why broccoli is good for the body

Due to its rich composition, broccoli brings significant benefits to the body. With regular use, cabbage:

  • protects the organs of vision from diseases;
  • strengthens the walls of blood vessels and has a beneficial effect on the work of the heart;
  • increases the body's immune resistance;
  • helps to quickly cope with colds;
  • fights inflammatory processes of any nature;
  • cleanses tissues and helps to remove toxins from the body;
  • aids in healthy liver function;
  • accelerates metabolic processes and prevents constipation;
  • can serve as the prevention of oncological ailments.

Useful properties are possessed not only by adult inflorescences, but also by seedlings. The benefits of broccoli seeds are used in detoxification programs for the body, since the sprouts are especially effective in ridding the body of accumulated toxins.

Cabbage sprouts cleanse the body very well

Why broccoli is useful for a woman's body

Cabbage is present in many diets, it is low in calories, tastes good and has a mild effect on the intestines. The benefits of broccoli for hair are also appreciated by women - vitamins and minerals in the composition of inflorescences have a positive effect on the beauty of curls and help to maintain youthfulness of the skin.

You can eat broccoli during menopause or with painful periods. Cabbage helps to normalize hormonal levels and improves overall health.

Why broccoli is useful for a man's body

For the male body, the anti-cancer properties of inflorescences are especially valuable. When used regularly, cabbage reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer after 40-50 years.

In addition, the product has a good effect on blood vessels, prevents the occurrence of atherosclerosis and heart ailments. Cabbage improves blood circulation, which has a beneficial effect not only on the general condition, but also on the potency of a man.

The anti-cancer properties of the vegetable are especially beneficial for middle-aged men

Why broccoli is good for kids

Broccoli is a valuable element of baby food. It very rarely causes allergic reactions, and the benefit is that the inflorescences support healthy peristalsis and prevent childhood constipation.

You can give cabbage to a child after six months of life in the form of a soft puree. The initial portion should be no more than 1 small spoon, you need to chop the pre-boiled cabbage. If a negative reaction does not follow, then gradually the dosage can be increased.

Attention! The benefits and harms of broccoli for babies are not always the same - cabbage has certain contraindications. It is imperative to consult a pediatrician before adding a vegetable to a children's menu.

What kind of broccoli is most useful

Cabbage inflorescences can be eaten both fresh and after heat treatment. But the benefits of broccoli will vary.

Is it good to eat raw broccoli

Nutritionists differ on fresh cabbage. On the one hand, raw inflorescences retain the maximum amount of vitamins and therefore provide the greatest health benefits.

In its raw form, the benefits and harms of a vegetable are ambiguous.

But at the same time, it is raw cabbage that gives the highest load on the stomach and intestines. Excessive amounts of inflorescences can cause flatulence and abdominal pain. There is another danger - due to the structural features of the inflorescences, it is very difficult to rinse them properly. Therefore, when eating raw cabbage, there is always a risk of contracting an intestinal infection.

Is frozen broccoli good for you?

For long-term storage, cabbage is often frozen - in the freezer it can retain its beneficial properties for up to six months. After freezing, the unusual cabbage remains the same useful, vitamins and minerals in it are not destroyed by low temperatures. At the same time, it is forbidden to freeze broccoli again; you need to use cabbage immediately.

After freezing, the product retains all its properties

Why boiled broccoli is good for you

Boiled cabbage inflorescences have a softer structure and gently affect the digestive tract. When eating boiled cabbage, flatulence and other unpleasant sensations in the intestines are less common. In addition, boiling allows you to properly disinfect the product and eliminate possible E.coli.

The calorie content of boiled cabbage is even lower than that of fresh cabbage - only 28 kcal per 100 g. Therefore, processed inflorescences are often added to the diet.

Boiled inflorescences are softer and tastier than fresh ones

Important! It is recommended to cook unusual cabbage no longer than 3 minutes, in which case the inflorescences will have time to soften, but retain most of the vitamins and minerals.

Harm of broccoli cabbage

Under certain conditions, broccoli can not only be beneficial, but also damage the body:

  1. The inflorescences will have a negative effect on the intestines during an exacerbation of digestive ailments. Broccoli stimulates peristalsis and promotes gas formation, so it should not be consumed with diarrhea and flatulence.
  2. Broccoli can be harmful if consumed too much. The recommended daily dosage is only 200 g.
  3. Like any cabbage, broccoli is not advised to eat at night. Since cabbage buds trigger active digestive processes, it can interfere with sleep at night and lead to stomach pain and gas.

The benefits of broccoli microgreens, or seeds, will appear only with limited use, no more than half a glass of sprouts per day.

Vegetables are not recommended before bedtime.

Contraindications to broccoli cabbage

For individual ailments, green cabbage inflorescences are recommended to be completely removed from the menu. The list of contraindications includes:

  • product allergy;
  • acute pancreatitis or stomach ulcer;
  • gastritis with high acidity in the exacerbation phase;
  • a tendency to diarrhea and gas formation.

It is not recommended to consume cabbage inflorescences in the postoperative period. If the intervention was carried out on the abdominal cavity, increased peristalsis can be harmful.

Broccoli rules

In cooking, broccoli is mainly used in processed form. Raw cabbage is quite healthy, but it is difficult to rinse it with quality, and besides, there is a slight bitterness in the taste:

  1. Most often, broccoli is boiled over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. At the same time, the maximum benefit is preserved in the cabbage, the bitterness goes away, and the inflorescences become soft in consistency.

    In cooking, the product is used mainly in a boiled form.

  2. After boiling, the cabbage can be lightly fried. The inflorescences are placed in a frying pan with a little oil and kept for only a couple of minutes. When serving, the inflorescences can be sprinkled with cheese or lemon juice, garnished with herbs, nuts or raisins.

    Very tasty dish - fried broccoli

  3. The benefits and harms of broccoli soup depend on the preparation method. In the first courses, cabbage inflorescences are recommended to be added already in a finished processed form. The fact is that the broth from under the vegetable inflorescences contains substances adenine and guanine, which can damage the body.

    It is better to add broccoli to soup in an already boiled form.

Cabbage is not only boiled, but also steamed, stewed and baked. In all cases, the heat treatment is required very short - no longer than 5 minutes. Cabbage buds go well with most foods - cheese, eggs, meat, cream, vegetables and sour cream.

The use of broccoli in traditional medicine

The numerous beneficial properties of this unusual cabbage make it a valuable medicinal product. Green inflorescences are used to treat many diseases.

Broccoli for diabetes

In the composition of cabbage inflorescences there is a valuable substance sulforaphane. It is best known as an anti-cancer component, but sulforaphane has another beneficial property - it lowers blood glucose. Eating cabbage buds can help maintain normal sugar levels.

The glycemic index of cabbage is only 15 units, so broccoli is almost always allowed for diabetes. They consume it in boiled form, no more than 200 g per day.

Vegetable is used to normalize sugar levels in diabetes

For the intestines

Cabbage inflorescences contain a large amount of fiber. Eating boiled broccoli is very useful for constipation - the product enhances peristalsis and helps to normalize the stool.

To get rid of problems with bowel movements, it is enough to introduce vegetable inflorescences into your diet on a weekly basis. With constipation, cabbage has a mild, but powerful effect, usually on the second day, and with regular use of inflorescences, problems with stool disappear.

The product helps to relieve constipation

With gout

Unlike other types of cabbage, broccoli contains very few purines in its composition and therefore is approved for use for gout. Against the background of the use of a vegetable, uric acid does not accumulate in the joints, on the contrary, an unusual cabbage helps to remove harmful salts from the body and alleviate the condition. Inflorescences are used for medicinal purposes after a short boil, broccoli juice is also beneficial, you can drink it in an amount of 1-2 glasses a day.

Broccoli inflorescences and juice can be consumed for gout

For the liver

Broccoli can be used to treat liver disease.The beneficial properties of cabbage inflorescences prevent the deposition of excess fat and improve the digestibility of incoming food. Broccoli removes toxins from the body and thus facilitates liver function, contributing to its recovery.

The product helps to cleanse the liver from harmful substances

With hemorrhoids

An unpleasant disease occurs mainly with a lack of mobility and against a background of improper nutrition. In the treatment of hemorrhoids, not only medications but also diet play an important role. Food should be rich in dietary fiber and sufficiently soft - under these conditions, bowel movements will be easy, and hemorrhoids will recede.

Broccoli cabbage inflorescences contain a lot of fiber, and the structure of the vegetable after boiling is very soft and easy to digest. Therefore, it is simply necessary to include inflorescences in the diet for hemorrhoids, the product has a therapeutic effect. Besides vitamins and microelements of broccoli improve blood composition and strengthen the walls of blood vessels, which also helps to heal hemorrhoids.

With hemorrhoids, it is very useful to include a vegetable in the diet.

Is it possible for pregnant women to broccoli

As part of cabbage inflorescences there are many B vitamins, therefore, during the period of bearing a child, the product is highly recommended for use. Folic acid in inflorescences has a positive effect on the fetus and contributes to the correct formation of the baby's nervous system. Ascorbic acid in the vegetable strengthens the immune system of a pregnant woman and protects her from viruses and colds.

Broccoli rarely causes nausea during pregnancy, and helps fight constipation in the later stages. Before use, cabbage must be boiled - in unfortunate circumstances, fresh inflorescences can be poisoned, besides, boiled cabbage is better absorbed by the body.

When breastfeeding, you can return the product to the diet as early as 5 weeks after childbirth. The product rarely causes negative reactions in infants.

For pregnant women, the product helps to avoid constipation

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of broccoli are closely related to each other. In order for cabbage inflorescences to have a beneficial effect on the body, it is necessary to use them in small dosages and after proper processing.

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