by Gordon Hamilton

Created on: August 24, 2008

Broccolli is a member of the brassica family, along with other well known vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower and brussel sprouts. It is not only one of the healthiest common vegetables which we can eat but,in light of many recent scientific studies, almost certainly the healthiest. It is quite literally packed full of goodness; vitamins and minerals such as Vitamins A and C, folic acid, fibre, calcium and natural potassium. So what do each of these jargonistic labels mean to the ordinary man or woman in the street in terms of how they can improve their health? Let us take them one by one and delve a little further into their specific desireable properties...

Vitamin C is probably most often associated with being found in fruits such as oranges. It is needed by the body in order to stimulate and strengthen the immune system and is therefore considered extremely beneficial in preventing the onset of simple things like the common cold. It is also essential however to the production of collagen, that adhesive substance which, for example, binds our muscles to our bones.

Vitamin A is essential for keeping the eyes and the skin in a healthy condition. It is another vitamin which also keeps the immune system functioning as it should.

Folic Acid (Vitamin B9) is absolutely essential to the health of our heart. A deficiency in this vitamin can cause all sorts of serious and potentially fatal conditions. The same properties are also thought to inhibit the development of colon cancer.

Calcium is of course most associated with dairy products and widely known to promote the health and strength of teeth and bones. It is also, however, effective against heart disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers and even certain pre-menstrual conditions. Broccolli should therefore be used particularly by vegans - who do not consume dairy produce - as a means of obtaining sufficient quantities of this essential nutrient.

Fibre is particularly important to the health of our digestive systems and bowels as the vast majority of us will already know. It is another substance however which has greater all round benefits such as controlling cholesterol and regulating the sugar in the blood which is of course particularly beneficial to diabetics and those at risk of developing the disease.

Potassium is a hugely important mineral to the overall health of our body and yet probably one of the most under-rated. A deficiency in natural potassium can cause us to develop severe muscle cramps or spasms, feel depressed or run down and even generally nauseous. It also provides a great many of the benefits touched upon above.

The health benefits of broccolli now hopefully established, we should consider for a moment why we don't eat more of it. The simple answer is that it is probably not seen as being an attractive or trendy enough option. In order to combat this preconception, what we should be doing is looking at how we prepare it and finding alternative methods which - very importantly - will not destroy the essential vitamins and minerals. The most important factor here is not to overcook it. It should be boiled for an absolute maximum of ten minutes, though seven or eight is generally enough, in very lightly salted water. Try then preserving the boiling water - which has captured a great many of the nutrients - and chilling it in the fridge as a refreshing drink. Try also serving the broccolli with a low fat cheese sauce and toasted bread crumbs over the top - delicious!

And of course, we must not forget the children - do yours "hate" broccolli? Try giving them a carefully picked floret, still with a length of stalk attached, and telling them it is one of "Mother Nature's" lollipops!

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