Yes, you can juice broccoli, and benefit from a wide range of nutrients, such as Vitamin A, C, and B6. Broccoli is also rich in potassium and will furnish your body with antioxidants that are known to decrease cancer growth and inflammation.
And while broccoli is nutritious, you will be disappointed to find out that most of the nutrients will not be derived from the vegetable by juicing. Raw and cooked broccoli, therefore, offers the greatest health benefits. You can use it on salads, or just munch on it raw. The vegetable is not exactly sweet, so it would be best if you just focus on its nutritional benefits. Broccoli’s taste can be described as herbaceous or earthy.
Health benefits of broccoli
As mentioned earlier broccoli is rich in vitamins and minerals but what we are focused on is the sulfur compound found in the vegetable that greatly assists with different health conditions. Broccoli does contain, sulforaphane, a Sulphur compound know to help with diabetes. Sulforaphane is thought to help with blood sugar, and by consuming broccoli as a juice, as a snack, or cooked, you will begin to notice some big improvements in your blood sugar.
Sulforaphane is also known to inhibit the growth of the cancer cells and will keep the cartilage between your joints healthy. The Sulforaphane compound found in broccoli is, therefore, the best for individuals who want to slow down or prevent the development of osteoarthritis.
Which is the best way to juice broccoli
We get it that broccoli can help prevent the growth of certain types of cancers but juicing them individually, might not be a good idea, because it could grow on you. The vegetable is known to have a very strong flavor and taste when juiced, so if you want to keep your dosage of broccoli consistent, below are a few tips on how to make it edible and more nutritious.
- Ensure to thoroughly wash your broccoli among other produce
Greens when not washed properly could be ingested with the chemicals used during planting. If you, therefore, want to consume fresh and chemical-free broccoli juice, best you ensure that it is thoroughly washed, to also get rid of dirt.
- Mix other water vegetables–
The idea behind incorporating other vegetables in your broccoli juice is to dilute the flavor. And that does not necessarily mean that you should stray from the greens, you can get some celery leaves or cucumbers and masticate them with the broccoli.
- Add a neutralizer
Your broccoli juice doesn’t have to taste so bad, besides the whole point of making juices is so that you can enjoy them. Apples and carrots make for great neutralizers and will improve the taste of your broccoli juice and pack a nutritious punch.
- Use lemon or lime–
The surest way of neutralizing the bitterness of the broccoli juice is by using lemon or lime juice. Lemon is acidic and will neutralize the bitter broccoli juice enabling a refreshing taste.
- Don’t use a lot of broccoli–
Too much broccoli and you will only drink a small portion of the juice. Masticating a lot of broccoli is not advisable because the taste can be overbearing, even if you add the neutralizers they will be overpowered.
How to counter the bloating effect from juiced broccoli
If you suffer from severe bloating from juiced broccoli, you always have the option of juicing other types of green vegetables such as kales and celery. But if you are determined to take broccoli juice, how about you try mixing it with freshly squeezed ginger, which will additionally provide your body with other gastrointestinal benefits.
When mixed with broccoli juice, ginger is known to effectively reduce excessive bloating.
Disadvantages of juicing broccoli
Broccoli is a powerful vegetable not only in taste and flavor but also in digestion. The vegetable is not the easiest to digest and if you have a sensitive stomach, you could suffer from bloating, cramping, or develop gas.
Individuals who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome must stay away from green vegetable juice. If you have kidney problems broccoli is not good for you because it contains phosphorus, which might quickly build up in your blood.
But, if you don’t experience any negative side effects when taking the broccoli juice, you stand to gain much more by consuming it moderately. Take a glass of broccoli juice a day, if you are doing this for the first time, and with time you can add more as your digestive system gets used to it.
Can broccoli stems be juiced?
When talking about broccoli, most of our attention is directed to the florets, and with good reason, given that they are the most important part of the vegetable. When making broccoli either as a salad or as a juice, many people will get rid of the stem. What you don’t know is that the stems of broccoli are edible and can be juiced.
And if you find the taste less appealing, find some nutritious additives such as coconut milk, lemon juice spinach, and ground flaxseed and add them to your broccoli juice.
FAQ’s
How can I juice the broccoli sprouts?
Juicing broccoli sprouts is easy if you have a masticating juicer. Get a cup of the sprouts and feed them into the juicer and collect your juice on the other end.
Which one between broccoli and the broccoli sprouts is nutritious?
Broccoli sprouts are much more nutritious, as they are a good source of calcium when compared to broccoli. The sprouts are also rich in iron when compared to broccoli.
Conclusion
Broccoli juice is not for everyone, if you have problems with your kidneys or suffer from irritable bowel syndrome then best you keep off the juice. But if you suffer from minor bloating issues, you could try the ginger trick. Consuming broccoli can be tough, but it does have some of the best nutritional benefits and helps enhance overall health. Moderate consumption of broccoli can also help reduce the chances of developing osteoarthritis.
