Growing up, I despised broccoli. Yet, my mom lovingly forced me to eat it (thanks mom). Well sometimes I ate it, but mostly I tried to feed it to the dog under the table. Nowadays, I eat my broccoli and enjoy it too! Steamed, raw, roasted, mashed, mooshed, smooshed – any way works. I like broccoli thrown into pasta, in salads, and dipped into hummus. You can even throw it into smoothies and juices if your feeling super green, or blended into pesto, pureed into soups, or finely chopped and thrown into rice/grain dishes.

• Tons of phytonutrients (compounds found in plants that have crazy super powers for humans who eat them) in broccoli help with all stages of our body’s detoxification process.
• Eating broccoli can lower oxidative stress – which happens when too many overly reactive oxygen-containing molecules exist in our body, putting us at risk for chronic inflammation and disease.
• With perfect teamwork the vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, and carotenoids in broccoli can lower icky oxidative stress, therefore reducing the risk of healthy cells turning to cancerous cells.
• The trifecta of aiding in the body’s detoxification, reducing oxidative stress, and decreasing chronic inflammation really makes broccoli a superfood in preventing the formation of cancer and other disease.
• Broccoli is also a super concentrated source of Vitamin C, which is necessary for a healthy-happy immune system.
• Including all those amazing benefits broccoli is also packed with Vitamin K – needed for blood clotting and protein modification, plus: folate, chromium, fiber, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and tons more. Goodness gracious. Craving broccoli yet?

Vegukate Tips:

Organic broccoli is an inexpensive and underrated whole food superfood. Plus, organic broccoli is only pennies more expensive than conventional. Purchase deep, dark green broccoli with firm stalks and stems. Avoid broccoli that is wilted, soft, and has yellowed leaves.

Consume fresh broccoli a few days within purchasing, as it is highly perishable. Refrigerate for up to three days to keep fresh.