If you visit gym on a regular basis, or even if you are just a health conscious person, you might know how important the protein content in the diet is. But, the fact that most of us do not know about is, there is also a great variety among proteins, and to get the most health benefits out of them, your focus should be more on quality than quantity.
This green crispy vegetable enjoys the special status of being one of the most nutritious vegetables in the world of healthy vegetables.
Botanically, Broccoli belongs to the cabbage family which is collectively known as cruciferous vegetables. It’s also closely related to cauliflower. Its cultivation originated in Italy. It’s Italian name Broccolo, means, “cabbage sprout.”
President George Herbert Walker Bush’s war on broccoli is still talked about. On March 22, 1990, he told members of the press (to quote the New York Times) “I don’t like broccoli. And I haven’t liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I’m President of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli!” The president never ever wanted to see another sprig of broccoli on his plate, whether he was on Air Force One or at the White House or anywhere else in the land.
If we look at the health benefits of this wonderful vegetable, we will realize that his mother was not wrong! You love it or hate it, but can’t beat its nutritious benefits. Some of them are listed below.
Health related benefits of eating Broccoli:
Broccoli’s miraculous nutrients list includes vitamin C, vitamin A, Calcium, folic acid and fiber.
Healthy Eyes: It’s a good source of vitamin A that is needed to form retinal. This light-absorbing molecule is essential for both low-light and color vision.
Improved Immune System: This wonder veggie aids the immune system with a large dose of beta-carotene. Minerals, such as zinc and selenium help to strengthen immune defense actions.
Fights Birth Defect: Lack of folic acid during pregnancy may result in birth defects. This vegetable contains folic acid which is highly recommended during pregnancy.
Prevent Colds: One cup of broccoli contains large dose of vitamin C. This antioxidant is necessary to fight against free radicals. Moreover, vitamin C is an effective antihistamine for easing the discomfort of the common cold.
Strong Bones: It also contains high levels of both calcium and vitamin K, resulting in healthy bones, which helps to prevent osteoporosis.
Healthy Heart: If you steam it, Broccoli can provide you with some special cholesterol-lowering element which can prevent or slow down the thickening of arteries in the human body, thus fighting against heart disease and stroke. The B6 and foliate reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke.
Reduce Cancer Risk: Scientists in England are in the process of creating a type of super-broccoli that has an enhanced ability to reduce the risk of cancer.
Healthy nervous system: The high potassium content helps in maintaining a healthier nervous system. It also in helps the human brain to function optimally.
It can be used in various ways to make tasty, healthy food. I am giving you an easy recipe to make broccoli and almond soup which can be prepared in a jiffy.
Method of Preparation
Serves 6
Preparation time: 15 minutes.
Cooking time: 15 minutes.
Ingredients:
To garnish:
Step 1: Take a saucepan and heat butter. Add onion and stir fry for approximately 5 minutes till it softens.
Step 2: Stir in broccoli. Add grounded almonds, stock, salt and pepper.
Step 3: Cover it after first boil and let it simmer until the broccoli is tender. Let it cool slightly. Then puree in a blender.
Step 4: Now pour this puree back in saucepan and add milk.
Step 5: Heat the butter for garnishing in a frying pan. Add the almonds and fry them golden. Now ladle the soup into bowls. Drizzle a spoonful of yogurt and garnish it with fried almonds.
Food is the fuel for the body and it keeps the body functioning and healthy. All of you reading this discussion will agree to the fact that we get bored eating the same dishes day after day and change is very important in order to retain the taste and flavor. For all of you who happen to be non vegetarians chicken must be one of the favorite recipes. Chicken is loved by people on a universal level as it is so versatile in nature. You can actually make so many dishes using chicken which you can eat in breakfast, lunch and dinner as well. Today let us discuss some easy dinner recipes using chicken.
Chicken dinner recipes
1. Braised chicken with capers and the ingredients for the same are: 1 pound new potatoes, 8 skinless bones in chicken thighs, salt, freshly ground black pepper, 3 tbsp olive oil, ¼ cup salt capers which must be coarsely chopped, 1 shallot, ¾ chicken broth, 1 tbsp cherry vinegar, lemon juice and 2 tbsp chives.
To begin the dish first clean the potatoes and the chicken and quarter the potatoes, then heat the oil in pan and sear chicken in it until brown. The next step would be to add potatoes to skillet and cook until brown and remove in a plate. Add capers and shallot to skillet and sauté for one minute. Add chicken broth, lemon juice and vinegar and then add the chicken. Arrange potatoes and chicken on a platter.
2. Chicken adodo will require 1 whole chicken, 12 whole garlic cloves, 1 cup apple cidar vinegar, ½ cup soy sauce, 1 tbsp coarsely ground black pepper and 4 dried bay leaves.
The first step will be to cut the chicken in ten pieces like thighs, legs and breasts. Then place the pieces in a large lidded Dutch oven or may be a casserole. Then add bay leaves, vinegar, garlic, soy sauce and pepper. Bring the whole mixture to a boil and then simmer the flame and cook at medium until the chicken is cooked. Do not forget the turn the chicken in between so that it is cooked from both the sides in an even manner. Remove cooked pieces and set aside and keep cooking the sauce. Cook until it is thick and then put the pieces back and toss nicely and serve on a platter.
Food is good for health but there are some food items that sometimes pose threat to the human body. The Center for Science in the Public Interest or CSPI has recently conducted a search and gave the report some time back. As per the report submitted by CSPI chicken and ground beef are probably the riskiest meat in food supply that you can consume in the US as they pose a very serious threat of causing food borne illnesses in the people which can lead to hospitalization.