This is a tall plant, on the top of which flower stems are formed, ending in groups of small green buds, and together they form a small loose head. Cut the head when the yellow flowers do not yet develop, new shoots and new heads may appear from the side panels.
Of course, in appearance cauliflower is more beautiful, and broccoli is more useful. This can be seen by familiarizing yourself with the chemical composition of cabbage, which the researchers of different countries persistently study. So, in the broccoli found a variety of vitamins: C, B1, B2, B5, B6, E, K, PP, provitamin A, folic acid. A vitamin C in it is almost as much as in green parsley, and this is twice as much as in white-headed cabbage, and 1.5 times - than in color.
For the content of vitamin B1, broccoli takes the first place among cabbage crops (and thiamine is the prevention of nervous system disorders and all associated diseases: weak nerves, irritability, depression, stress, poor sleep, fast fatigue). Kholin also helps nervous and forgetful people.
If we consider the content of beta-carotene, then the advantage of broccoli before other cabbage species is 7-43 times, before apples - 30 times, before oranges - at 16.
Noteworthy and mineral series in broccoli: potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, sulfur, selenium. He is even richer than in cauliflower.
In the cooking of Western European countries and the United States, there are many recipes for broccoli dishes. Nutritionists are advised to use daily at least 50-70 g of this product and suggest a weighty explanation for their recommendations.
Broccoli - protection for the stomach. American and Japanese scientists believe that when broccoli becomes a daily product, it will protect against many serious problems, in particular stomach cancer. After all, the substance of sulforaphane, which is in cabbage, has a harmful effect on Helicobacter pylori - those bacteria that attract gastritis, ulcer and stomach cancer. On the other hand, there is a lot of fiber in the broccoli, which helps to avoid constipation, which also provokes a lot of diseases of the digestive system. In addition, broccoli regulates the activity of glands, which secrete gastric juice and enzymes, and this contributes to better digestion.
Also broccoli is valuable for the cardiovascular system. Potassium nourishes the heart muscle, vitamin K is responsible for blood coagulation, vitamin E protects the cell membranes from damage by free radicals (it is considered the best cardiac defender), a group of substances, among them omega-3-acids, fiber, promote the elimination of "bad" cholesterol , prevent arterial sloughing, that is, prevent atherosclerosis, hypertension, stroke, heart attack, arrhythmia and the like.
Broccoli helps to strengthen immune protection, fight infections due to the presence of vitamins C, beta-carotene, selenium, zinc, phosphorus, glutathione.
Broccoli cabbage is the key to healthy hematopoiesis, since it contains all substances (iron, chlorophyll, folic acid, vitamin C, etc.) involved in the production of red blood particles.
Some substances of broccoli, in particular vitamin C, predetermine the improvement of metabolism, the process of elimination of toxins and uric acid, which is determining in the fight against so-called metabolic diseases: arthritis, gout, rheumatism, kidney stones or gallstones, kidney diseases, : eczema, boils, rashes. It should be noted that purine substances in it are 4 times less than in cauliflower, and therefore it is more suitable for the mentioned health problems, especially with gout.
Broccoli promotes bone health, as it contains a significant amount of calcium, which, in combination with other constituent parts of cabbage, provides growth and renewal of bone cells, bone density, thus preventing rickets, osteoporosis, tooth fragility, fractures and the like. Therefore, broccoli is highly recommended for children's menus, menus of pregnant women, mothers-nurses, elderly people.
Considering the large amount of beta-carotene in broccoli, vitamin E and C, group B, doctors talk about its usefulness to the eyes, in particular, believe that it prevents cataracts.
It is important that the broccoli contains chrome - not very frequent in the plants microelement, but its role in the life of the body is significant: it regulates blood sugar (say, works wonders), lowers blood pressure, counteracts the deposition of cholesterol in the liver and arteries. Because this plant is worth paying attention to those who suffer from high blood pressure, from diabetes or reduce blood sugar. Scientists have found that a cup of cooked broccoli contains 22 mg of chromium, which is ten times more than in any other product. The daily norm of chromium is 50-200 mg.
It should be noted that for the respiratory system, broccoli is needed as an anti-inflammatory bactericide, it helps prevent the transition of acute inflammatory processes into a chronic form, contributes to the normalization of respiratory functions.
And now about this peculiarity of cabbage: it is considered one of the main products of an anti-cancer diet that counteracts the growth of altered cells, therefore it serves as a primary prevention of cancer and prevention of the occurrence of metastases. Not surprisingly, after all, for the content of such an important antitumoral agent, as provitamin A, broccoli is a champion (as already noted, it prevails in color and white-headed cabbage tenfold).
The anti-cancer effect also produces vitamin C, and other antioxidants - quercetin, sulforaphane, isothiocyanates, indoles. Broccoli is recommended to be used as a protection against cancer of the lungs, skin, colon, prostate, uterus and breast. Cancer of the female organs is associated with an excess of estrogens, which is a nutrient medium for cancer cells. Cabbage, thanks to the powerful anti-cancer complex of substances, promotes a decrease in activity and a faster exchange of these female sex hormones, so the risk of cancer is reduced.
For dietary nutrition, cabbage broccoli is more useful than white and colored. There are, in addition to the already mentioned useful substances, proteins (5%), high-quality, high-grade, they are compared with a protein of chicken eggs. Preserved broccoli, fresh and frozen, well, better than color. And dishes from it can be cooked the same, as well as from color. That is, it is most useful to eat cabbage damp, in salads, or hardly cooked - best for steaming, or stewed, so that the set of nutrients is not lost.