When we hear about broccoli, what do we think about normally? Its shape that represents miniature trees, or its pretty awful taste? Well I believe both of them are equally true. However, we should never ever underestimate the health benefits of broccoli.
Sprouting Broccoli
It contains two essential vitamins, namely vitamins C and K. Vitamin C works as a powerful antioxidant and protects the body from the hazardous free radicals, whereas vitamin K is used to drive away blood clot. Other than that, broccoli also provides folic acid, potassium, as well as fiber.
There is also a variant of the broccoli, which is the purple sprouting broccoli. What is the purple sprouting broccoli? What are the health benefits of purple sprouting broccoli? And are those health benefits the same as in normal green broccolis?
These are also the 18 proven health benefits of broccoli.
What is the Purple Sprouting Broccoli?
The purple sprouting broccoli is a beautiful looking plant that looks like flowers but indeed it is edible just like any other vegetables. It is often found during the summer months, and are similar to the tenderstem broccoli, in terms of having florets that grow in long stalks, having mini-trees, as well as tender yet edible stems. All in all, it offers approximately the same nutritional benefits to the normal broccoli, only that it is slimmer and more colourful.
The purple sprouting has become popular partly due to the mild flavour it carries. The flavour of the purple sprouting broccoli works well as a compliment or side dishes such as salads, roasted meat or pasta. It is also a perfect companion to salty foodstuff such as cheese, bacon or anchovies.
Nutritional Content of the Purple Sprouting Broccoli
The purple sprouting broccoli contains valuable nutrients such as;
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Carotenoids
- Calcium
- Folic Acid
- Iron
- Fibre
These are the health benefits broccoli soup and health benefits eating broccoli.
The Health Benefits of Purple Sprouting Broccoli
- High Water Content
90% of the purple sprouting broccoli is made of water! Of course, consuming the purple sprouting broccoli boosts your daily water intake in a great way. It also helps the maintenance of bodily fluids in order for several internal functions to run properly.
Several of these functions notably include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and body temperature maintenance.
- Low in Carbohydrates
Meanwhile, the purple sprouting broccoli contains very low carbohydrate. Low carbohydrate promotes accelerated weight loss, reduced hunger, better insulin and blood sugar management, improved cognitive performance, lower risk of heart, cardiovascular diseases plus cancer.
On the other hand, low carbohydrates would also mean low glucose production to store energy.
- It Has Especially Powerful Antioxidants
The purple sprouting broccoli contains two powerful antioxidants which appear in the form of vitamins A and C. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a role to ensure healthy vision, neurological functions, as well as healthy skin by naturally slowing down signs of aging. Vitamin A also helps you to reduce inflammation by combating the cancer-causing free radical damages. Also read:Â Vitamin A Benefits Apart For Eyes Vision.
In the meantime, vitamin C is another water-soluble vitamin present in almost every type of fruits and vegetables. It also drives off free radicals, inflammation as well as promoting prime immune system. Vitamin C is also used to synthesize vital compounds such as collagen, and also to produce other compounds such as L-carnitine and neurotransmitters.
- High in Both Iron and Potassium
Iron is a mineral, which is mostly found in the hemoglobin of red blood cells plus myoglobin of muscle cells. Iron is needed to transport gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, and to prevent iron-deficiency illnesses such as anemia. Iron helps the red blood cells to transport oxygen from the lungs throughout the whole body, and also to sustain bodily functions. Apart from anemia, iron is also thought to improve brain function, reduce heart failures as well as restless leg syndrome (RLS).
On the other hand, potassium is a mineral that serves various important functions throughout the body. They are also prevalent in foods such as fruits (especially dried fruits), cereals, beans, milk, as well as vegetables. Potassium function by aiding the transmission of nerve signals, muscle contractions, fluid balance, treating high blood pressure, low levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalemia) as well as preventing stroke.
- Brings You the Amazing Health Benefits of Folic Acid
Folic acid and folate are two forms of water-soluble B vitamin. The difference is that folate is found in food whereas folic acid is the synthetic form of this vitamin. Folic acid is used to prevent and treat folate deficiency, which is low blood levels of folate, enhance proper development of the human body, produce the DNA, and so much more.
Folic acid is also known to be able to treat a wonderful amount of serious diseases such as stroke, cancers such as colon and cervical cancers, memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, vitiligo, AIDS, up to depression, nerve pain, muscle pain and sleep problems!
- It Contains Carotenoids
Carotenoids or dietary carotenoids are a sub-category of antioxidant-compounds that are thought to provide health benefits in decreasing the risk of eye diseases as well as cancers. Smaller compounds that make up the carotenoid family include beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Beta carotene can be converted into vitamin A, lutein plus zeaxanthin protects the eye by absorbing dangerous blue rays that enter the eye, while lycopene can also be used to prevent heart and cardiovascular diseases.
Recipe: Purple Sprouting Broccoli with Garlic and Sesame
Ingredients That You Need
- 450g of puple sprouting broccoli
- 2 tablespoons of groundnut or vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons of toasted sesame oil
- 5 garlic cloves that are peeled and finely sliced
- 1 tablespoons of toasted sesame seeds
Steps of Preparation
- Trim off any hard ends and coarse leaves of the broccoli. Boil the broccoli inside a saucepan of salted water for 2 minutes.
- Simmer the broccoli and drain the water thoroughly afterwards.
- Heat the oils in the frying pan at a medium heat. Fry the garlic for 2-3 minutes, stir until the slices are light golden in colour. Include the broccoli afterwards and fry for 2-3 minutes until the stalks are hot and absorbed with garlicky oil.
- Put the cooking on the plate and sprinkle the broccoli with sesame seeds before serving.
Here are why you should have garlic for weight loss and also benefits of garlic for your healthy heart.