Counters of vegetable departments burst with a variety of the offered products, their quantity and the range do not decrease even in the winter. And among all this abundance there is one copy which is not habitual for our table and appeared not so long ago. But even for not really big term many already managed to fall in love with this wonderful vegetable thanks to its taste and huge advantage.
Small tree
Cabbage of broccoli is an annual vegetable plant. Treats to family Cabbage and is the closest relative of a cauliflower. In total in the world there are about 200 types of this vegetable.
Best of all grows in conditions of crude and cool climate. Optimum suitable temperature — from +18 ° up to +23 °C. The stalk has height of 60-90 cm, and its top is covered a set of tsvetonos.
These tsvetonosa also use in food when their diameter reaches 12-17 cm. In the conditions of ideal climate if to cut off tsvetonosa, then from side kidneys new often appear. Thus cabbage can fructify several times in a row within 2-3 months.
Whether you know? It is considered that broccoli out of wild cabbage were brought by ancient Romans. And vegetable received the name from the Latin word bracchium that hand means.
All know that broccoli is very useful vegetable which has expressive tastes. It is cooked by a set of various ways, and bright green color of vegetable allows to make dishes not only tasty, but also beautiful.
We study structure
Broccoli has various components thanks to which is famous for the usefulness.
Vitamin
Vegetable has a rich vitamin complex:
- vitamin A;
- vitamin C;
- vitamin E;
- vitamin K;
- vitamins of group B (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9).
Mineral
It is not less as a part of cabbage of this type and mineral substances, among them:
- copper;
- calcium;
- selenium;
- zinc;
- hardware;
- manganese;
- magnesium.
Also contains such electrolytes as sodium and potassium.
Caloric content and nutrition value of a product
Nutrition value of crude cabbage of broccoli (on 100 g):
- proteins — 2.8 g;
- fats — 0.4 g;
- carbohydrates — 6.6 g;
- water — 89.3 g;
- cellulose — 2.6 g.
Contains only 34 kcal on 100 g of a product that makes 2.39% of average standard daily rate for the person.
It does cabbage of an irreplaceable component not only the healthy and good nutrition, but also various dietary systems.
As for boiled cabbage, its caloric content is even lower — 28 kcal. As much and in the vegetable steamed.
Important! Broccoli caloric content significantly increases when frying (up to 46 kcal) — the people watching the weight and adhering to any power supply system need to mean it.
About advantage
All know that broccoli is very useful vegetable which is irreplaceable at healthy food. But not everyone knows, than this vegetable helps our body and what specifically beneficial influence on it has.
Among useful properties there are such:
- prevention of oncological diseases;
For prevention of oncology recommend to use beans mung, a feijoa, a girasol, badger fat, onions shallot, oil of grape seeds, tomato juice.
- improvement of skeletal system;
- removal of toxins from an organism;
- normalization of work of heart;
- improvement of work of digestive system;
- strengthening of immunity and nervous system;
- alignment of arterial blood pressure;
- beneficial influence on sight;
- the help at diabetes.
Also cabbage has a number of the qualities useful to specific sexual and age groups.
For men
Is important for health of a strong half of mankind of broccoli very much. This green vegetable — an effective remedy of prevention of a prostate cancer. The most effective is the use of crude inflorescences with tomato sauce and kernels of a Brazil nut.
For women
For great ladies this vegetable is irreplaceable too, cabbage slows down processes of aging of an organism, improves a condition of hair (strengthens them, doing more brilliant and strong) and interferes with appearance of various skin diseases (including skin cancer).
Slow down aging processes also Japanese green tea of a sench, ginger, a lime, hempseed oil, fish a pike perch, seaweed vakame.
For children
This species of cabbage does not cause allergic reaction, and therefore it is considered ideal option to start a vegetable feeding up of babies. At such use of an inflorescence before cooking several hours in water have to be presoaked.
Certainly, and to children of more advanced age this vegetable will be useful, and is obligatory for some to the use. It especially concerns children who have chronic bronchitis. It is considered that broccoli — one of the most less polluted by pesticides vegetable therefore its existence in a diet of the child is safe.
Whether it is possible to eat
During pregnancy and feeding of the woman especially carefully watch the diet, there are certain rules and the bans.
To pregnant women
This species of cabbage contains practically all elements, necessary for an organism, and during such period they are necessary for women in much bigger quantity. Therefore many doctors recommend to begin to use vegetable at a stage of planning of the child.
To pregnant women also recommend to use fish a loach, fish a silver salmon, a chicken liver, haricot white, beef liver.
Feeding
Also vegetable is considered one of the safest for the feeding mothers. It is possible to enter it into a diet since 4-5 weeks after the birth of the kid. It is worth doing it, using special recipes (broths or soups).
Rules of the choice of cabbage
For chy to choose the most useful to you and your family vegetable, it is worth following certain rules:
- The inflorescence has to be dense and firm.
- Color — dark green or a little lilac.
- The buds which are surely densely closed (the yellow or slightly slightly opened buds — sign of dead-ripe stage).
- The smell has to be fresh, without any sharp and unpleasant aromas.
- On a head of cabbage there should be no damages and decay — it is dangerous to buy such copy.
It is possible to find in shops also the frozen broccoli. It has to be saturated green color, without any defects and excess ice. If you stopped the choice on the packed cabbage, then it is worth paying still the attention and to an expiration date.
Whether you know? The few people know that they do oil which is very useful for health of hair of seeds of broccoli.
How to store a product
It is desirable to use inflorescences as soon as possible after purchase, but if it was not succeeded to make it, that is small secrets which will prolong life to vegetable:
- To put an inflorescence in the container with water as a flower bouquet. Water level should not be more than several centimeters. From above it is possible to put on in addition a small cellophane bag, having made in it several holes for ventilation. So cabbage will stay 5-7 days in the fridge (it is necessary to change water every day).
- To spray on an inflorescence much more pure and to wrap up it in a paper kitchen towel. In such look in the fridge vegetable will remain 3 days.
- If there is no time for the first 2 ways, then just put on a package cabbage and make in it several holes for air. Such method will help to keep freshness of a product several days.
Whatever option of storage you chose, it is necessary to place broccoli in the fridge at once as soon as you brought it home.
For longer storage frosts use method:
- To divide an inflorescence into small parts (to 3 cm in height) and to wash out.
- To prepare a pan with the boiling and ice water.
- To boil thoroughly broccoli 3 minutes then for the same term to dip into ice water.
- To cast away cabbage on a colander, to allow to dry out and cool down.
- To spread out necessary portions on tight packages or containers and to remove on storage in the freezer.
It is possible to freeze just washed out and dry-through inflorescences if you have no time or an opportunity to carry out the above procedure.
Cabbage can be stored in such look till 1 year, and observance of all rules of process will keep the majority of useful substances.
Features of use
The beneficial influence of vegetable on health, of course, positively affects also appearance.
For appearance
Except internal application, inflorescences can be used and outwardly. This effective remedy for rejuvenescence of the person, disposal of small wrinkles and removal of hypostases and swellings for about a century.
Various masks which have to become courses are for this purpose used or be added to regular skin care. It is important to do them at least, than 2 times a week.
For weight loss
Broccolis call vegetable with negative caloric content. There is a diet where it is necessary to use in large numbers broccoli, spinach or a celery that will allow to lose weight very quickly.
Low-calorie products, shrimps, grapefruit also consider chili pepper, kohlrabi cabbage, milts of salmons, mango, squids.
It is explained by the fact that more energy is spent for digestion of such food, than it delivers. But, unfortunately, these data are not proved by scientists and not checked officially in practice.
Nevertheless existence of green inflorescences in various dietary power supply systems proves efficiency and, the main thing, usefulness of broccoli.
All options, except frying will be suitable for preparation of dietary dishes from cabbage. Also you should not use fat sauces and gas stations.
Art of preparation of broccoli: ways
Any vegetable can be made differently. Not an exception and broccoli — depending on your preferences you can choose the type of cooking which is most suitable for itself or regularly alternate them, constantly adding something new to the diet.
Cooking
Cooking of inflorescences is one of the easiest ways of preparation, but also there are subtleties:
- it is necessary to put vegetables in already boiling water with small addition of salt. Waters has to be a little, only to cover cabbage;
- 5-7 minutes it is necessary to cook fresh broccolis, 12-15 minutes — if inflorescences were previously frozen.
It is possible to give with other species of cabbage or various vegetables as a garnish or a separate dish.
Study useful properties and such species of cabbage as red, Beijing, Savoy, white, Bruxelles, color.
To add taste, it is possible to make sauce on the discretion or to strew ready broccoli with favourite spices.
If you like this vegetable in a fried look, then it is the best of all to fry it after cooking. Then duration of this way of preparation will be shorter, and advantage in a dish, respectively, it is more.
On couple
It is possible to realize such option of preparation as by means of the special double boiler, and other ways.
In the microwave oven:
- To cut clean inflorescences on a part of one size.
- To put them in a bowl which can be used in the microwave (it is desirable with a cover).
- To cover a bowl, having left a little space that there was steam.
- To prepare in the furnace on high temperature 3-4 minutes.
In a frying pan or in a pan:
- In a deep frying pan or a pan to pour a quarter of a glass of water.
- To bring water to boiling and to place there the prepared parts of broccoli.
- To cover and prepare 3 minutes on strong fire, and then 3 more minutes on weak.
In a metal colander:
- To fill a big pan with water on 2-3 cm.
- To establish a metal colander inside (it has to be convenient to place vegetables in it, and it should not concern a water surface).
- When water begins to boil, to place the broccoli cut on a part in a colander and to cover.
- To get in 5-15 minutes (depending on the size of parts).
Blanshirovka
Such unusual process is carried out in 2 steps:
- The cleaned and cut inflorescences are added to the boiling added some salt water. It is necessary to keep in water 2-4 minutes under the closed cover.
- After a skimmer to shift all vegetables in in advance prepared container with ice water for several minutes.
Such way helps useful substances to remain with vegetables, and they do not lose the attractiveness and tastes.
Roasting
Perhaps, it is the most creative type of preparation of broccoli, it is possible to bake it somehow: in various sauces, with cheese, butter, combining with other vegetables and seasoning with favourite spices.
It is necessary to do it in an oven, the furnace or the multicooker, and the average time of preparation of such dishes is 30 minutes.
Crude
It is possible to use broccoli and in the raw. Cabbage is added to various salads as one of ingredients. It is important to choose only fresh inflorescences for such dishes, it is good to wash out and be confident in the seller from whom you bought a head of cabbage. The vegetable which is grown up on own bed will be ideal.
Possible harm and contraindications
At all the usefulness vegetable has also contraindications.
It is not recommended to use broccoli to people with such diseases as:
- gastritis;
- ulcer;
- problems with a pancreas and the increased acidity of a stomach.
Also it is worth excluding this product at the diet appointed by the doctor which excludes the use of rough cellulose.
It is not necessary to use cabbage and at individual intolerance.
It is important! Remember that when frying, as well as any other product, broccoli emits carcinogens. So the use of a product in a fried look is not desirable, and at all it is contraindicated to the people having problems with health.
About advantage of cabbage
But not only broccoli has properties, positive for our organism. There is a set of other species of cabbage — all of them different, but prove not less useful and tasty representatives of the family.
White
Cabbage, most habitual for our person. But though this vegetable also seems to us usual, it does not become from it less useful, has a number of important properties:
- improves blood circulation, exchange processes;
Also acacia honey, crude beet, honey with propolis, cherry, fish of a hoka improve blood circulation.
- it does not allow to be postponed to cholesterol;
- possesses anesthetic and anti-inflammatory action;
- normalizes digestion;
- improves work of heart and many other things.
Bruxelles
This tiny cabbage have a large amount of useful properties:
- reduce risk of congenital defects;
- reduce cholesterol level;
- improve sight;
- are prevention of respiratory diseases;
- normalize work of a brain;
- treat locks and heartburn;
- prevent appearance of a breast cancer and many other things.
Color
The close relative of broccoli can safely compete with it in usefulness, it:
- has anti-inflammatory properties;
- is prevention of oncological diseases;
- improves digestion, work of heart, maintains health of a cardiovascular system and many other things.
Having added bigger amount of various vegetables, including broccoli to the daily diet, you will make an invaluable contribution to your health now and will make possible lack of many problems of an organism in the future.