Did you know that broccoli contains more protein than steak does? I know this statement may raise some eyebrows in disbelief. After all, spurious advertisements and food manufacturers make us believe that only animal products contain all the essential amino acids. They consistently bombard us with fake information that plant proteins are incomplete. We were also taught that animal protein is superior compared to plant protein.

But, the truth is this: for every 100-calorie portions, broccoli contains 11.1 grams of protein. While steak contains only 6.4 grams. Many studies support this data. Even Dr. Joel Fuhrman, M.D., author of the best-seller book, Eat to Live, confirms this truth.

Therefore, don’t believe in the common belief that protein is found only in meat. It’s unfounded! Where do you think elephants, gorillas, and rhinoceroses get their protein? Isn’t it from the green grass that they feed on? These big animals are not carnivorous. We all know that! You see, all protein on earth is formed from the effect of sunlight on green grass.

What’s in broccoli?

Now, let’s go back to broccoli.

Scientifically, broccoli is known as Brassica oleracea. This tree-shaped food is one of the cruciferous vegetables. It’s closely related to cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale. To give you an overview, this veggie is particularly loaded with, among many others:

  • Vitamins C, E, and K
  • Fibers
  • Minerals
  • Antioxidants.

Scientists find broccoli to contain more vitamin C than an orange. It also contains as much calcium as a glass of milk. And, a medium-sized stem has 3 times more fiber than a slice of wheat bread. Isn’t that amazing?

Not only that!

The dark green veggie has the ability to provide us with a potent shield from many diseases. This is because every stem of broccoli is high in folate and low on calories. It contains sulforaphane, a cancer-fighting substance. Sulforaphane is a sulfur-rich compound that helps activate our body’s immune cells. This compound works to help our liver detoxify potential carcinogens like exhaust fumes, alcohol, drugs, and cigarette smoke. In addition, broccoli protects us from breast, skin, and colon cancers. It also effectively lowers our risk of developing diseases in the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, throat, pancreas, and lungs. Studies show that younger women who include broccoli in their regular diet are less likely to develop breast cancer. This does not hold true, however, among older women, especially those in their post-menopausal stage.

Because of these significant benefits that we can get from broccoli, I highly recommend that we make it a significant part of our regular diet. We should also educate our children about healthy foods. We need to encourage them to eat more plant-based foods than advocate the processed ones and fast foods. It’s better to train them while they are young in order to protect them from unnecessary ailments later on in their life.

A few fun facts about broccoli:

  • If you drink a beverage that contains broccoli (or any of the cruciferous vegetables) and fruits twice every day for 12 weeks, you’ll significantly reduce your LDL (low-density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol) levels.
  • Evidence shows that consuming broccoli daily reduces your risk of developing bladder cancer by around 30 percent.