H&W: Broccoli

Fred Lalas
Oct 31, 2019
3 min read

Updated: Nov 6, 2019

...Yeah I'm not sorry that I'm posting about this vegetable. Broccoli has really good health benefits that are too good NOT to talk about. Here; a list I purposefully copy/pasted and did not change (plagiarized) from THIS SITE:

Broccoli Nutrients

Broccoli is a great source of vitamins K and C, a good source of folate (folic acid) and also provides potassium, fiber.

Vitamin K – essential for the functioning of many proteins involved in blood clotting

Vitamin C – builds collagen, which forms body tissue and bone, and helps cuts and wounds heal. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and protects the body from damaging free radicals.

Fiber – diets high in fiber promote digestive health. A high fiber intake can also help lower cholesterol.

Potassium – a mineral and electrolyte that is essential for the function of nerves and heart contraction.

Folate – is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells in the body.

You're good bro/sis. I did the research for you.

SO let's move on to why you should care:

1.) That vitamin K is gonna come in handy because other than minor cuts, if you're taking any sort of oil supplement like FISH OIL, you could potentially thin out your blood too, causing possible bloody noses or extended bleeding time.

How do I know this you ask? WELL LEMMY TELL YOU:

When I was a nursing assistant, my dad gave me his fish oil supplement cuz he didn't want it. I took it every day. It was a stressful job and I was only 5 months into the job. I helped a patient back into his chair, and he suddenly gives me this weird look. (o_0) I put two and two together and RAN to the patient's bathroom and saw my nose was HELLA bleeding and I didn't feel it at all! I snatched a bunch of tissues from my nurse's cart and shoved em into my nose and continued working cuz I'm a f#$%ing badass.

...sike. I was terrified at work with tissues in my nose...

MOVING ON, Vitamin K studies show that it can also maintain brain health, maintain bone health, and improves blood flow by preventing arterial clogging (mineralization).

2.) Vitamin C, yeah the same magic that orange juice is made of. Broccoli got it. The biggest thing about this vitamin is wound healing and to prevent scurvy (bleeding gums and reopening of already-healed wounds).

3.) Fiber. Yeah fiber's dope for poop, but the compound called sulforaphane which makes broccoli taste bitter is a cancer fighting compound. And all that fiber can prevent constipation. BUT YOU GOTTA DRINK WATER FOR IT TO WORK.

4.) Potassium, the stuff in bananas. Has anyone ever told you that when you're cramping, you eat a banana? No? Well I'm telling you that now, sir and/or madam. Cuz potassium is needed with sodium in the right amounts for that good electrolyte balance. So no msucle cramping for you. ALSO potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+) are two MVPs for healthy heart beats.

5.) Folate does a bunch of things that actually sound super boring/technical. But if you're interested, read the rest. Otherwise skip this: Folate (Vitamin B-9) helps make red & white blood cells in the bone marrow, helps produce RNA and DNA, and helps convert carbs into ATP (energy).

So eat ya broccoli. I don't care if it gives you gas. Just drink more water and burp it out. You're gonna need that water to help with the fiber that broccoli's giving you anyway. Otherwise you're gonna have a tough time in the bathroom without that hydration.

... Yeah, I went there...

If you see any inaccuracies or have any questions or wanna chat with me, message me on Instagram @fredlalas

I wish all of you the best of health

-Fred,

Health and Wellness Enthusiast, ex-LVN, ex-CNA

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