Is broccoli really helpful in losing weight ?

Is broccoli really helpful in losing weight ?

By Froots

Whenever we set our weight loss goals, the first thing that pops up in our mind is what to eat? It is very important to carefully choose what we feed our bodies with. Healthy food should not just be a part of our fitness regimes, but should be consumed on a regular basis for living a healthy life. Let’s read about how eating broccoli can aid in weight loss.

Reduces Cholesterol

Broccoli contains loads of soluble fibres which helps our body lose excess cholesterol. Some varieties contain high levels of glucoraphanin which reduces LDL – cholesterol (Low Density Lipoproteins). Lower LDL levels mean reduced risk of heart related diseases and cancer. Elimination of cholesterol reduces the fat deposits in our body and helps in weight loss.

Improves digestion

This green vegetable contains good carbs and high dietary fibres. The food we eat is digested properly if broccoli is consumed regularly. It also reduces constipation or indigestion. This helps our body eliminate excess fat and toxins and make us fit and healthy. Protein source – Vegetarians have very limited options to fulfil their protein requirements. Broccoli is one such vegetable which contains a good amount of protein. Proteins help us in reducing the intake of carbs and fats. They make us feel satiated and full which plays a crucial role in reducing fats from our body. Not only for vegetarians or vegans, broccoli is a clean plant based source for meat lovers too. It is easy to cook and digest.

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Protein source

Vegetarians have very limited options to fulfil their protein requirements. Broccoli is one such vegetable which contains a good amount of protein. Proteins help us in reducing the intake of carbs and fats. They make us feel satiated and full which plays a crucial role in reducing fats from our body. Not only for vegetarians or vegans, broccoli is a clean plant based source for meat lovers too. It is easy to cook and digest.

Detoxification

Broccoli contains abundant antioxidants which helps in eliminating the toxins from our body. It also contains sulforaphane, which works in removing harmful chemicals and is a very good anti-cancer compound. It also reduces inflammation in our body and makes our body more tolerable against minor infections.

Cardiovascular health

Broccoli helps in lowering LDL (Low density lipoprotein), indirectly preventing blockage in our blood vessels. It is a good source of isothiocyanates which reduces inflammation and keeps blood vessels strong. A person with a healthy heart can exercise more efficiently than someone with an unhealthy heart. Broccoli also contains magnesium and potassium which keeps the muscles of heart working in their best condition.

Immunity booster

Broccoli is loaded with vitamin C which is a necessity for a good immune system. It also contains trace amounts of zinc and selenium which are known to improve our immunity. It also contains vitamin B complex (B1, B2, B3 and B6)which when combined with all the other elements like magnesium, potassium, vitamin C etc. keeps our immune system up and running in its best form. When our body is capable of fighting against infections, it gives us a chance to control our diet and follow our workout routines strictly. So a good immune system will help us lose weight faster.

Nutritional benefits

Apart from the above mentioned benefits, broccoli is a good source of calcium, magnesium, potassium and vitamin K. These elements are responsible for good bone health and prevents serious illness like osteoporosis. This green vegetable is very good for our brain health too. Potassium helps us by absorbing nutrients and eases the process of removing waste products from our body. Magnesium is required in almost all the biochemical reactions in the human body. Along with potassium it helps in keeping our muscles and heart healthy.

Directly or indirectly, consumption of broccoli regularly will help you lose weight one way or another. Follow a strict diet plan with low carbs and high fibre with sufficient exercise. Adding broccoli to your diet plan will help you achieve your goals faster. If properly cooked, broccoli can be a very good source of essential nutrients that will prevent the chance of undernutrition. This will be one less thing to worry about while controlling our diet.

With so many recipes and methods to cook broccoli, you can consume it regularly without getting bored. Cook it as a savoury dish or soup and flavour it according to your palate or you can consume it in salads, juices or smoothies. Eat it solo or combine it with other elements to make a nutritionally enriched meal. Either way this vegetable can work wonders for you. What’s the hold then? Order fresh broccoli from us and eat it guilt free!

References:

Armah, C.N., Derdemezis, C., Traka, M.H., Dainty, J.R., Doleman, J.F., Saha, S., Leung, W., Potter, J.F., Lovegrove, J.A. and Mithen, R.F. 2015. Diet rich in high glucoraphanin broccoli reduces plasma LDL cholesterol: Evidence from randomised controlled trials. Molecular nutrition & food research, 59(5): 918-926.

Mukherjee, V. and Mishra, P.K. 2012. Broccoli an underexploited nutraceutical. Sci. Res. Reporter, 2(3): 291-294.

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