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Carbs In Broccoli



The Truth about Carbs in Broccoli

No one should worry about the carbs in broccoli. Broccoli is an excellent addition to low-carb and any other diet or nutrition plans. In fact, broccoli is simply one of the best foods you can eat and it has been found to have many health benefits. In every serving of broccoli, carbohydrates are only 4%.

The truth is that broccoli is the best vegetable to add to your diet. Whether you eat it raw as a snack or as part of a larger meal, it is still full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. When you eat broccoli raw, the carbohydrates are absorbed more slowly into the blood stream. This can be a benefit for people who are physically active, such as athletes, or for diabetics and people trying to lose weight.

Broccoli is a member of the cabbage family, which makes it a cruciferous vegetable. This is very important because cruciferous vegetables have been proven to be preventative of certain types of cancer. The phytochemicals or antioxidants in broccoli, indoles and isothiocyanates, are the reason. A research study at Johns Hopkins University found that one of these isothiocyanates, named sulforaphane, aided bodily enzymes in stopping cancer-producing agents.

Another excellent benefit of the carbs in broccoli is that they are offset by the huge fiber content of the vegetable. Broccoli is high in both soluble and insoluble types of fiber. This is important in regulating the digestive tract. Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A (beta-carotene), calcium and folic acid. Vitamin C does more than just help prevent colds--both vitamin C and beta-carotene contain antioxidants found to prevent heart disease and cataracts, plus several specific types of cancer, such as colon, breast and prostate cancer.

Broccoli is a great source of calcium for those people who do not drink milk, and calcium is thought to reduce high blood pressure, a leading cause of heart disease. Calcium has proven to be very effective in the prevention of osteoporosis by increasing bone density. And, let’s not forget that broccoli is full of potassium, another mineral which helps lower blood pressure.

Not long ago there was a rumor floating around the internet that broccoli has the same amount of carbohydrates as chocolate. It put a scare into people who have been eating a lot of broccoli in their efforts to lose weight and eat healthy. Nutrition forums across the internet were bombarded with worried dieters who were wondering if they had made the right choice when adding broccoli to their diets.

But there should be absolutely no need for concern. The carbs in broccoli are so low that they can fit into any low-carb diet.

Take a look at these figures:

  1. 2 ounces of milk chocolate has 32 grams of carbohydrates
  2. 1 cup broccoli contains 5-6 grams carbohydrates, and 1 cup = 8 ounces.
  3. So, 2 ounces of broccoli has roughly 1 gram carbohydrates (0.75)

When you consider these statistics plus all the health benefits of eating broccoli, you know for sure you cannot go wrong by adding broccoli to your meals. In addition, you will find that just a half cup of broccoli has 0 fat or cholesterol, 1207 IU vitamin A, 49 mg. vitamin C, 84 micrograms folic acid, 31 mg calcium, 16 mg magnesium, and 1,567 micrograms carotenoids (antioxidants).

Broccoli is an easy vegetable to add to any meal, and the fact that it is available year-round in your neighborhood supermarket makes it a cinch to locate. One tip to remember: While you can cook broccoli in a microwave, it loses 97% of its antioxidants in the process. Steaming is the preferred preparation method. Eating fresh broccoli raw will give you the most nutrients.