If you want to live longer, eat vegetables every day. Many people say this, but which vegetable? We have so many types of them.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia on March 2, many people are looking for broccoli as their first choice to stay healthy and boost their immunity.

“Previously, I rarely ate broccoli. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, my family and I have been eating broccoli every day. I heard that it is a healthy food,” Indriyani, a housewife who lives in West Jakarta, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Indriyani is not the only person who is looking for broccoli.

“I have been selling vegetables for a long time. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, most of my customers are increasingly buying broccoli. I am selling broccoli like hot cakes now,” Sutanto, a vegetable seller in West Jakarta, told the Post.

During the last few months, the price of broccoli has gone up, and in some supermarkets, the price of broccoli has more than doubled. Previously, 1 kilogram of broccoli cost between Rp 20,000 (US1.36) and Rp 30,000. Now, it sells for up to Rp 60,000 per kilo.

“The price of broccoli at traditional markets is much, much lower than at supermarkets. Due to COVID-19, I am scared to go to traditional markets, which are usually crowded and dirty,” said Fauziyah, who works in a private company in North Jakarta.

Why we should eat broccoli? What are its nutritional and health benefits?

As a delicious and an edible green plant, broccoli comes from the cabbage family called Brassicaceae, genus Brassica. The word broccoli is an Italian word, the plural of broccolo, which denotes the flowering crest of a cabbage.

Broccoli is native to the Mediterranean region. Though it originated in Italy, broccoli is currently grown widely in many countries, including Indonesia. Two of the world’s most populous nations – China and Indonesia – cultivated and consumed more than 70 percent of the global production of 28 million tons in 2017. Indonesia, which is a major producer, still imports a small quantity of broccoli as its production is not sufficient to supply its huge population.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, broccoli, which is high in water and low in calories, is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, fiber and many bioactive compounds.

“Broccoli, a nutritional powerhouse, contains vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, thiamine, riboflavin, folate, vitamin E and vitamin B6,” Sanjeevini Pertiwi, who studied biomedicine, said.

For example, Sanjeevini said, one cup of broccoli has 81 grams of water, 31 calories, 6 grams of carbohydrates, 2.6 grams of protein, fat, calcium, antioxidants, potassium and 2.4 grams of fiber.

According to the Healthline website, there are three varieties of broccoli: calabrese broccoli, sprouting broccoli and purple cauliflower.

Broccoli can be sauteed, roasted or steamed. Whatever way you cook it, broccoli, a magnificent vegetable, gives you plenty of nutritional bang with each bite.

“I like two things if I go to my favorite restaurants. I always order broccoli soup and broccoli garlic salad. These two dishes, which are delicious and healthy, are my favorites,” Joko Prahito, a student in Jakarta, said.

If you want to stay healthy and slim as well as boost your immune system, broccoli is the right choice. 

Among all its benefits, broccoli’s cancer-fighting properties make it a superhero.

“Broccoli is a cancer-fighting superhero. Eating broccoli may protect people from the risks of certain types of cancer, such as prostate, breast, gastric, colorectal, kidney and bladder cancer. This is mainly because of certain bioactive compounds that reduce inflammation and cell damage,” Sanjeevini said.

Many studies have proved that the vitamin C in broccoli helps our body fight infections, and the vitamin K strengthens our bones and teeth because of the calcium content in it.

The flowering plant not only reduces cholesterol but also reduces weight and inhibits inflammation. It also improves digestion and helps relive constipation.

The antioxidants and fiber in broccoli can help us control our blood sugar level.

The Healthline website says that broccoli may support heart health.

“Research indicates that broccoli may help reduce various heart disease risk factors and prevent heart tissue damage,” the website said.

The website further stated that broccoli may slow mental decline in elderly people and that it boosts brain function. It can thereby slow the aging process. It also protects our skin from sunshine.

Given its richness in vitamins, minerals, fiber and calcium, broccoli is a good and healthy choice for pregnant women.

Since broccoli is low in calories, we can eat as much broccoli as we want, so you can binge on it to your heart’s content.

What you are waiting for? Start eating broccoli, cooked or raw, every day to stay healthy!

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