Broccoli Crowns - © longosblog.com

Broccoli Is Good For Your Digestion

I can just hear the Broccoli haters out there, tapping away on their phones, pads and keyboards, poised to pounce on me for promoting their most disliked food. But I must, in good conscience, point out a new study extolling the benefits of Broccoli consumption for digestive health.

Thai Beef with Broccoli - © food52.com

Spicy Thai Beef with Broccoli: Just one delicious way to get your daily Cruciferous Veggies!

In 1990, the eternal war between Broccoli lovers and Broccoli haters came to a head when then-President George H.W. Bush revealed to the media that he had banned Broccoli from the menu on Air Force One. Broccoli farmers dumped an estimated ten tons of the nutritious Veggie on the White House lawn. Back then, before 9/11, you could actually walk on the White House lawn. The whole thing blew up into a media farce that consumed an awful lot of valuable media space and time. Just shows how strong folks’ opinions about Broccoli are. But it doesn’t take anything away, at all, from Broccoli’s long list of health and dietary benefits. Broccoli is a Leafy green, it’s Cruciferous and it packed with vitamins and minerals.

But that’s not all…

Now, researchers at Penn State University say they’e uncovered a link between Broccoli – and other Cruciferous Veggies – and improved digestive trace health.

The researchers, who published their findings in the current issue of the Journal of Functional Foods, suggest that Cruciferous vegetables – such as Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts and Cabbage – contain an organic chemical compound called indole glucosinolates, which breaks down into other compounds, including indolocarbazole (ICZ) in the stomach. When ICZ binds to and activates a key receptor in the intestinal lining, it aids in maintaining a healthy balance in the gut flora and immune surveillance, and enhances host barrier function, according to the researchers. This may help prevent diseases, such as various cancers and Crohn’s Disease, caused by inflammation in the lining of the gut.

Now, the research team admits you would have to eat 1 3/4 to 3 1/2 cups /  400 to 800 ml of Broccoli a day to enjoy the benefits they’ve discovered. But other Cruciferous Veggies are just as good or better: All you need is one cup / 250 ml of Brussels Sprouts a day to promote digestive health.

So, there’s no better time to try…

…My Roasted Brussels Sprouts!

Remove the loose outer leaves and trim the base of each Sprout.

Cut in half lengthwise.

Toss in Olive Oil and sprinkle with Salt, Pepper and Nutmeg.

Bake at 350 F arranged in a single layer on a baking sheet or sheet pan lined with parchment paper.

The Sprouts are done when they are fork tender and nicely browned on top.

You’ve never had Brussels Sprouts like this before and I guarantee you’ll want to make them more often, now that you know the secret!

~ Maggie J.