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Broccoli is a vegetable that is well known as a powerful health food loaded with antioxidants. Kids generally have a tendency to dislike it while vegetarians and dieters love it. Chock full of a vast array of vitamins and minerals, broccoli is powerful antioxidant, and a proven cancer fighter. You probably know that broccoli doesn't talk, doesn't walk, and never hitchhikes a ride with strangers, but there are a few facts about Broccoli that you may not be aware of:

Did you know that Broccoli is an excellent source of fiber but what makes the fiber within Broccoli unique is that half of it is insoluble and half is soluble? So unlike other vegetables Broccoli is able to meet all of your fiber needs.

Did you know that Broccoli is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin A and Folic, but that it also contains Manganese, Tryptophan, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Protein, omega 3-fatty acids, Vitamin B5, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B3, Zinc, Vitamin E and that it is still extremely low in calories?

Did you know that Broccoli contains carotenoids which are a compound that is also found in carrots? Did you know that it is for this reason that Broccoli can help prevent you from developing cataracts as you age?

Did you know that Broccoli is a member of the same family as Cabbage but that it most closely resembles another family member known as Cauliflower? This family is a bit different from your own though as they do not celebrate family events such as birthdays or family reunions. They prefer to just mingle quietly among themselves without a great deal of fuss or bother about much of anything.

Did you know that in the fight against peptic ulcers, Broccoli is actually more effective than antibiotics in combating the bacteria which causes these peptic ulcers?

You know that Broccoli contains antioxidants and that antioxidants help to protect you from the risk of developing cancer. But did you know that Broccoli contains the phytonutrients sulforaphane and indoles which are the chief reason for its amazing ability to fight cancer? It is one of these little indole fellows that is actually able to suppress breast tumor growth, and in addition to this tremendous ability, it is also able to slow down or to stop the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body.

Did you know that sulforaphane serves to increase the body's production of phase II enzymes, and that it is these phase II enzymes that are able to detoxify cancer causing chemicals, and thereby allow them to be safely eliminated from your body? Lab tests have shown that animals fed a diet rich in sulforaphane have fewer tumors, or much smaller tumors, than animals who do not receive this special diet.

Did you know that the second most common form of cancer in the world is stomach cancer and that tests show Broccoli offers tremendous protection against this killer? Broccoli actually is effective in slowing down the development of many types of cancer including ovarian, lung, breast, stomach and prostrate cancer.

Did you know that if your diet plan includes a regular intake of Broccoli that it will help to reduce your risk of developing coronary heart disease?

Well you know these things now, so next time you are in the supermarket shopping for vegetables, make sure that Broccoli is one of the first ones that you put into your shopping cart.

Mom was right. You should eat your vegetables!

Sources:

http://www. healingdaily.com/detoxificatio n-diet/broccoli.htm

http://home .howstuffworks.com/broccoli3.h tm

http://www.whfoods.com/genpa ge.php?tname=foodspice&dbi d=9

http://www.healingdaily.com /detoxification-diet/broccoli. htm

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