Broccoli isn't often looked at or viewed as a superfood, but many would tell you that it should be. This is because broccoli is arguably one of the most healthiest vegetables in the world and it can provide a number of different benefits when incorporated into a healthy diet. Broccoli is from the family of cruciferous vegetables, which also includes cabbage, kale, sprouts, and cauliflower. It contains an impressive nutritional profile, offering vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, calcium, potassium, and more.

Could Broccoli Slow The Aging Process?

Researchers recently thought that they had zeroed in on discovering a specific enzyme that has the ability to slow some chronic conditions that are associated with age. For now, their findings have been limited to just mice, but they did discover from them that the certain compound would appear to make cells act younger. Their findings were published in Cell Metabolism, and they say that this substance (nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) which can alter aging cells, is also found in a number of natural foods like broccoli, cabbage, and cucumbers.

Can Broccoli Provide Therapeutic Benefits?

Researchers have also published findings from another study in the journal Scientific Reports, that details their investigation into a specific compound that's found in broccoli, known as indole-3-carbonol (I3C) and how it might be able to help with age-related macular degeneration. This compound is known to help to remove environmental toxins.

What Else Can Broccoli do?

Researchers at the University of Illinois have suggested that eating broccoli at least 3 to 5 times every week, might help to lower the risk of certain types of cancers including colon, prostate, and breast.

Previous research in this area suggests that broccoli contains bioactive compounds that can help to impede the accumulation of fat in the liver. And when an individual has too much unhealthy fat in the liver, there is the worry of them some day developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

They tested their theory out on overweight mice, and they sought to investigate the impact that the broccoli would have on the progression and formation of any cancerous tumors in their liver. They found that when broccoli was included in the diet that the number of cancerous nodules in the liver would decrease. The broccoli was seen to help in stopping the uptake of too much fat into the liver, among other benefits.

This is one vegetable that can be eaten in a number of ways, from soup to salad, whether cooked or eaten raw; it can be incorporated into a number of different meals. It's also easy to store because you can freeze it and eat it later on. Broccoli is a powerhouse vegetable as far as its profile of nutrients that it provides. It is credited with helping to aid in digestion, possibly improving the cardiovascular system, and the immune system. It is also reputed with having anti-inflammatory properties, among other possible benefits.

pics:pixabay
sources:
http://time.com/4547919/this-compound-in-broccoli-can-slow-aging/
http://www.aoa.org/news/clinical-eye-care/broccoli-can-deliver-therapeutic-benefits-study-says?refer=rss&sso=y
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160303133607.htm
http://www.livescience.com/45408-broccoli-nutrition.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broccoli#Nutrition

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