Broccoli Benefits and Contraindications Broccoli is a green vegetable that belongs to the cabbage family and is grown primarily for its flowering head.
They are available in many varieties and the most popular are Calabrese broccoli, sprouting broccoli and purple broccoli. Being a good source of many nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, they provide a number of health and beauty benefits.
However, too much of everything is bad, and the same goes for rocoli. In this article, we will know about the main contraindications and side effects of broccoli, but first, let’s take a look at its benefits.
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Broccoli benefits and contraindications
Broccoli Benefits
Helps lower cholesterol Broccoli can help lower blood cholesterol levels by increasing the excretion of bile acids. Cholesterol is necessary for the production of bile acids, but bile acids are usually converted back to cholesterol when the requirement for it is exhausted.
However, the compounds in broccoli bind to bile acids and promote their excretion, preventing reconversion to cholesterol. As a result, new cholesterol must be used every time bile acids need to be produced, lowering blood levels in the process. This is an effective natural way to help control high cholesterol levels.
Excellent for the health of our eyes Broccoli, like many other cruciferous vegetables, contains copious amounts of the carotenoid antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. These carotenoid antioxidants help preserve eye function by slowing the macular degeneration related to age, suppress the development of cataracts and keep healthy vision intact for years to come. The other antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin C also play a role in maintaining optic nerve health.
Promotes detoxification of waste Toxins are implicated in a variety of adverse health conditions, including arthritis, cancer and even skin conditions. Fortunately, broccoli contains many detox enhancers, such as vitamin C, polyphenols, and sulfur, which are involved in phase-specific detoxification. Broccoli consumption can also promote the breakdown of toxins into less harmful metabolites, which are soluble in water and easily excreted in the urine.
Boosts immune resistance While the presence of vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E is well established to boost immunity, broccoli also contains a unique compound called glucoraphanin, which is converted to an antibiotic in the body. This can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause disease, increasing the capacity of white blood cells to destroy these foreign bodies.
Broccoli treats constipation Broccoli contains a high amount of fiber, which helps keep food and waste moving through the digestive tract. This fiber especially helps in the colon, where it adds bulk and stimulates the urge to have a bowel movement. This also minimizes the time the waste spends in contact with healthy cells, reducing the likelihood of cancerous changes occurring. A single cup of broccoli supplies almost 10% of your recommended daily intake of fiber.
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Helps facilitate healthy pregnancy Pregnancy is a period of time that has high nutritional requirements, since you are responsible for the healthy growth of a new being. As such, certain nutritional intakes need to be increased, such as folate and calcium.
Calcium is essential for fetal bone formation, and it must come from somewhere. If adequate intake is not achieved, the fetus removes it from circulation, compromising its bone health in the process. Folate is essential for the prevention of neural tube defects, deformities, and also helps with healthy brain development. Folic acid supplements are often used, but folate is a superior source of this nutrient.
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Broccoli contraindications and side effects
May be allergic to some people Broccoli is a good source of many nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, etc. It provides a number of health and beauty benefits. However, broccoli might not be a suitable food for all of us.
If you are allergic to broccoli, you should avoid consuming broccoli at all costs, as otherwise, it can lead to allergic reactions such as shortness of breath, wheezing, headaches, nasal congestionskin rashes, itching, stomachacheetc.
Also, if you are allergic to cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, turnip, cabbage, etc., then you are also likely allergic to broccoli.
can cause diarrhea Although eating broccoli regularly is very beneficial for our stomach due to the presence of dietary fibers; these act as a natural laxative, improve bowel movement and ensure smooth removal of feces from the system.
All this means that if the person is suffering from diarrhea, broccoli may work against them by increasing the number of bowel movements and at the same time making the stool too soft and even liquid. Not to mention that this fiber can also cause, in these cases, problems such as malabsorption and intestinal gas.
May increase risk of hypoglycemia Although broccoli is good for diabetic patients, it is advisable to eat it in moderation. This is because excessive consumption of broccoli can lower blood sugar to a dangerously low level, and this can lead to hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a condition in which our blood sugar level drops to a very low level and is characterized by symptoms such as blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, pale skin, fatigue, dizzinessexcessive hunger, excessive thirst, etc.
Similarly, if you are a diabetic patient and are already taking medication for the same, you should also watch your broccoli intake as it may interfere with the medication and may make the situation worse.
It should not be consumed by people suffering from hypothyroidism, since it blocks the ability of the thyroid to absorb the mineral iodine which is essential for the proper functioning of this organ.
May cause hypotension Eating broccoli on a regular and moderate basis is very beneficial in relieving hypertension or high blood pressure, which is the main cause of various cardiovascular problems such as myocardial infarction, myocardial infarctionirregular heartbeat, etc.
This benefit of broccoli is mainly due to the presence of «potassium» in it. Potassium is a vital mineral that acts as a natural vasodilator, relaxing our blood vessels and thus helping to regulate blood pressure. The presence of dietary fibers and chromium in broccoli also plays an important role in relieving hypertension.
Although broccoli is good for regulating high blood pressure, it is advisable to eat them in moderation. This is because the high level of potassium in our system can lower our blood pressure to a dangerously low level and can lead to hypotension. The hypotension or low blood pressure It is a condition in which our blood pressure drops to a very low level and results in symptoms such as fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, depression, clammy skin, etc.
Also, if you suffer from high blood pressure and are already taking medication for the same, then you should also eat broccoli in moderation as excess potassium in our system can interfere with the medication.
Eating broccoli while breastfeeding can cause stomach upset in babies such as abdominal pain, intestinal gas, intestinal blockage, etc.
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