I do not like broccoli, I have never liked broccoli and I do not believe that I ever will actually like broccoli. That does not stop me eating it; first my mother and now my wife have made sure that broccoli is included in my diet, at least occasionally. I have now learned some facts to back up why moms through the ages have insisted on our ‘eating up the greens’, especially broccoli.
I understand that there are many reasons why we should eat broccoli, along with other ‘cruciferous’ vegetables such as cabbage, kale, cauliflower and brussel sprouts. Their part in healthy balanced weight loss diets has been accepted for many years. I have now found a very scientifically convincing argument, to persuade me to make the effort and eat more of some of these foods.
It would appear that among the many undesirable substances which are present in our environment, there is a group of chemicals which find their way into our food chain. They are known as xenoestrogens and they have been found to alter our hormone balances.
One of the effects of these changes, is to encourage your system to store fat. This fat is almost always stored where you would not want it to be, such as in the belly area. So how can broccoli help?
Well the cruciferous vegetables contain certain substances, called phytonutrients, which can fight against these xenoestrogens.
I see this as another great example of science backing up what mom and grandma have been telling us for years.
We are encouraged to eat our five portions of vegetables every day anyway, for all the other benefits to nutrition, so using the broccoli etc., you can score a double whammy in keeping up your healthy weight loss diet.
My wife will continue her search for recipes and cooking methods which will break down my resistance to eating broccoli, but in the meantime I will continue doing what I did as a child. When there is food on my plate which I really do not fancy, then I get it over with quickly and eat it first.
While planning and maintaining a healthy weight loss diet, try to be always on the lookout for ideas and suggestions which can help and support your efforts.