Four Delicious Ways to Enjoy Broccoli
Shanthi Appelo, MS, RD
| 2 min read
It’s finally spring and the first crops of the year are starting to peep. Cruciferous vegetables are tolerant of cold weather and their seedlings are resistant to light frost. Broccoli is among the first veggies to emerge in Michigan’s spring. Let’s dig into why you should take advantage of this superfood this spring by exploring its health benefits:
Though citrus fruits are known for their immune-boosting vitamin C content, one cup of broccoli has a whopping 135% of the recommended daily intake for this tissue-repairing powerhouse. It also exceeds the recommendations for vitamin K, necessary for blood clotting and bone building. Broccoli packs in even more bone health benefits as a single cup contains 60 mg of calcium. Moreover, folate is a nutrient necessary to prevent neural tube defects during pregnancy and often found in fortified product. Broccoli is an excellent natural source of this folate, packing in 14%of the daily recommended intake in a cup. Finally, broccoli is a great source of fiber, aiding in healthy digestion and helping you leave full after a meal.
Broccoli is known as a health food, but it doesn’t need to be boring or worse yet packed with cheese or cream to make it taste good. We’ve got you covered with four healthy recipes to enjoy as broccoli makes its way in-season:
