Five Excellent Reasons Why Broccoli Leads to a Long Life.

Five Excellent Reasons Why Broccoli Leads to a Long Life
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rich_Carroll]Rich Carroll 

It certainly isn't surprising news that broccoli is good for our health. Perhaps people are not as aware just what this super-food vegetable can give us. The benefits of broccoli seem endless. It is a high-fiber food that aids in digestion, supports the body's detoxification, and may even reduce blood sugar levels due to its chromium and soluble fiber. Plus read to the end of this article as we will talk about other ways to prepare and consume broccoli if steaming it doesn't appeal to you.

So here are five excellent health reasons why broccoli can give you a longer and healthier life.

1. Helps the immune system and prevents us from aging as quickly. The reduction of oxidative stress that broccoli provides helps to keep a strong immune system. This is vital to prevent the cells from aging as rapidly.

2. Helps control blood pressure and kidney function. The natural compounds in the vegetable have a normalizing effect on DNA methylation patterns in the cells of these organs.

3. Relieves the effects of arthritis. It is believed the sulfur-rich compounds in broccoli block an enzyme that is destructive to cartilage.

4. Fights diabetic issues. The compound sulforaphane helps produce enzymes that protect blood vessels. Diabetics and people with heart issues normally have damaged blood vessels, and broccoli can keep this damage to a minimum.

5. Kills cancer stem cells. The root of the cancer cells are its stem cells. The sulforaphane in broccoli strikes at this root of cancer growth.

If steamed broccoli is something you cannot get used to, there are other ways you can incorporate this important food into your diet. Broccoli in soups is always a favorite, and cheese and broccoli is somewhat of a natural combination. Broccoli and stilton soup is one to consider; just be careful of the quality of the cheese you use. 

Other popular combinations are broccoli and beef and roasted garlic lemon broccoli.
Another nutritious option that was a big hit in the 1990's is broccoli sprouts. They look like alpha sprouts and some say taste like radishes. This radish flavor comes from a phytochemical that acts as a protection for the plant when it is still young. According the USDA these sprouts haven't the nutritional power of full sized broccoli, but it does offer one important value. 

Broccoli sprouts have a compound called glucoraphanin, and when the sprout is cut or chewed it combines with another substance called myrosinase, transforming to sulforaphane. This is the key to its nutritional value. Sulforaphane is what gives us its anticancer and antimicrobial properties that some believe are superior to regular broccoli because of its greater concentration levels.

If you don't want to eat broccoli all the time (and you shouldn't overdo any single vegetable), there are several others you should consider. In the same family as broccoli are cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and collard greens. Another great option is kale, and I hear it mentioned more and more in diets. It was a staple in Europe until the end of the Middle Ages, and during World War II it was cultivated in the Great Britain to supplement the nutrition in their diet. It was kale because it is quite easy to grow in the climate of Northern Europe.

Foods that make up the Mediterranean diet make for [http://losethatbellyfat.info/the-mediterranean-diet-recipes-a-great-fat-burning-diet/]excellent meals, as can attest by the great dining found in the Mediterranean area. These new findings show that they are also great for [http://liverissues.com/hypertension-issues/heart-disease/]heart health. Rich Carroll is a health enthusiast and writer living in Chicago.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Five-Excellent-Reasons-Why-Broccoli-Leads-to-a-Long-Life&id=8199065] Five Excellent Reasons Why Broccoli Leads to a Long Life