5 Reasons to Spear Broccoli

Broccoli has an interesting family tree. In fact, the ancient Romans thought that the flower heads of this member of the cruciferous family physically resembled small trees. Hence, the crisp veggie was christened the name of broccoli, which translates from Latin to mean branch.

Broccoli history dates back even further though, since it was first cultivated from wild cabbage by the Etruscans, the ancient civilization of Italy and Corsica. Eight centuries later, the vegetable was introduced to England, where it earned the nickname of Italian asparagus.

Surprisingly, broccoli wasn’t generally familiar to the palates of Americans until the roaring 1920s, when the D'Arrigo Brothers Company began growing it on a commercial scale in San Jose, California. As an experiment, the brothers sent a shipment to Boston to be tested in northeastern markets. Soon, broccoli began to gain popularity and by 1925 the vegetable was all the rage.

Now that you can appreciate how far this green has traveled and how its far-reaching appeal became established, it’s time to learn some more facts about broccoli. Here are five excellent reasons to look forward to having Italian asparagus end up on the end of your fork…

1. Broccoli is an incredibly abundant source of many nutrients, some of which are difficult to obtain without supplementation. Broccoli is rich in vitamins B6, E, K, C, and A, as well as being an excellent source of folic acid, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and dietary fiber.

2. Broccoli is also a good source of carotenoids, powerful antioxidants that are associated with a reduced risk of developing cataracts.

3. Broccoli contains an organic chemical compound known as sulforaphane, which has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. In fact, research conducted at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York show that this compound stops the growth of ovarian cancer cells and may also reduce the risk of breast cancer.

4. According to researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, broccoli checks the activity of helicobacter pylori, the bacteria responsible for peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. In addition, broccoli consumption has been linked to a reduced risk of gastrointestinal and bladder cancers.

5. Broccoli also contains components called indole-3-carbinol conjugates, a high intake of which has been associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer.

For the diet and health conscious set (that’s us), broccoli has yet another benefit: it ranks low in the Glycemic Index with a GI score of only 15.

But, what if you agree with former President George Bush, who declared he hated broccoli since his mother made him eat it as a child and who banned the veggie from the White House menu altogether? Well, you could try one of the ‘designer foods’ that scientists have released for broccoli phobics, like a chocolate-broccoli drink mix. Or, how about some broccoli peanut butter, developed by a 7th grader?

If those options sound even less appetizing to you (and I’m sure they do), there’s an easier pill to swallow—Vita-Super.

Vita-Super is packed with water-soluble nutrients and vitamins, including the maximum recommended daily amounts of folic acid, vitamin D, B-6, B-12 and health-giving botanicals.

With Vita-Super as part of your daily regimen, you'll never have to wonder if you're getting all the natural nutrition your body needs!