About
Scientific Name: Brassica oleracea italica
Cultivation: commercial cultivation dates back to the 1500s but was not popular in North America until the 1920’s. It was originally engineered by the Etruscans from a relative of the cabbage.
Broccoli is a large edible flower, like artichokes, that is native to the medditerranean. It is related to cauliflower and brussel sprouts and has a flavour akin to cabbage. We are accustomed to seeing calabrese broccoli but other varieties exist, namely romanesco which has thinner and more numerous stocks. In addition to this there are also hybrids available like broccolini (mixed with kale) and broccoflower (mixed with cauliflower.)
This semi-leafy green is a good source of calcium, vitamin C and folate as well as fiber!
Magical
I always seem to have the most issue finding information on veggies. Herbs are easy but the real “meat” of the recipes seems to be harder to find. The one source I did find has broccoli as being for protection and power.
This is a good time to talk about that intuitionLINK thing again! When you can't find the information you're looking for its time to turn to your own mind! You can use a combination of intuition and logic to figure some stuff out.
Basically you want to look at the mundane characteristics of the ingredient and see how that may translate to something metaphysical. So what are our mundane characteristics? Broccoli is green, a flower, and has a sturdy stem/stalk. So then we take that and extrapolate.
Green: money, wealth, wellness, nature, growth
Flower/florets specifically: growth, budding, new
Sturdy stem: strength, grounding, foundation
So putting this all together what can we use broccoli for? Creating foundation for budding projects pertaining to prosperity, health and growth.
But now I want you to do the same thing, either with broccoli or with another ingredient you love, and tell me what you found down in the comments below.
Mundane
As with every mundane section the health claims are not advice from me to follow. If you find one of these claims interesting please talk to your doctor or do some research from reputable sources. You can begin your search in the studies linked on the healthline article below.
Without further adieu, broccoli may:
- reduce inflammation theorized to come from a synergism of compounds.
- protect against some cancers (like most foods seem to.)
- help with blood sugar levels because of antioxidants and fiber
- help with cholesterol levels and overall heart health
- fiber = good poops.
- support brain function and help stunt decline.
- Promote a healthy immune system because it is chock full of Vitamin C.
- support dental and oral hygiene and care in addition to bone and joint health. Calcium content is part of the reason for this
- promote a healthy pregnancy because of its folate content.
- protect the skin from sun damage.
The same sulphur compounds that cause gas when broccoli is overcooked also have an antibacterial and antiviral effect.
As far as cooking with broccoli it is best if cooked the least. Heat degrades vitamins and minerals, specifically vitamin C so cooking for the smallest amounts of time, or nit at all, will provide you with the most nutrients. However, it is a bit of a fallacy that cooked vegetables lack nutrition at all. Just keep this point in mind. If you do choose to cook your broccoli steaming has been shown to degrade the nutrients the least.
Links to follow up with:
Top 14 Health Benefits of Broccoli (healthline.com)
The History of Broccoli as a Food (thespruceeats.com)
Scientific Name: Brassica oleracea italica
Cultivation: commercial cultivation dates back to the 1500s but was not popular in North America until the 1920’s. It was originally engineered by the Etruscans from a relative of the cabbage.
Broccoli is a large edible flower, like artichokes, that is native to the medditerranean. It is related to cauliflower and brussel sprouts and has a flavour akin to cabbage. We are accustomed to seeing calabrese broccoli but other varieties exist, namely romanesco which has thinner and more numerous stocks. In addition to this there are also hybrids available like broccolini (mixed with kale) and broccoflower (mixed with cauliflower.)
This semi-leafy green is a good source of calcium, vitamin C and folate as well as fiber!
Magical
I always seem to have the most issue finding information on veggies. Herbs are easy but the real “meat” of the recipes seems to be harder to find. The one source I did find has broccoli as being for protection and power.
This is a good time to talk about that intuitionLINK thing again! When you can't find the information you're looking for its time to turn to your own mind! You can use a combination of intuition and logic to figure some stuff out.
Basically you want to look at the mundane characteristics of the ingredient and see how that may translate to something metaphysical. So what are our mundane characteristics? Broccoli is green, a flower, and has a sturdy stem/stalk. So then we take that and extrapolate.
Green: money, wealth, wellness, nature, growth
Flower/florets specifically: growth, budding, new
Sturdy stem: strength, grounding, foundation
So putting this all together what can we use broccoli for? Creating foundation for budding projects pertaining to prosperity, health and growth.
But now I want you to do the same thing, either with broccoli or with another ingredient you love, and tell me what you found down in the comments below.
Mundane
As with every mundane section the health claims are not advice from me to follow. If you find one of these claims interesting please talk to your doctor or do some research from reputable sources. You can begin your search in the studies linked on the healthline article below.
Without further adieu, broccoli may:
- reduce inflammation theorized to come from a synergism of compounds.
- protect against some cancers (like most foods seem to.)
- help with blood sugar levels because of antioxidants and fiber
- help with cholesterol levels and overall heart health
- fiber = good poops.
- support brain function and help stunt decline.
- Promote a healthy immune system because it is chock full of Vitamin C.
- support dental and oral hygiene and care in addition to bone and joint health. Calcium content is part of the reason for this
- promote a healthy pregnancy because of its folate content.
- protect the skin from sun damage.
The same sulphur compounds that cause gas when broccoli is overcooked also have an antibacterial and antiviral effect.
As far as cooking with broccoli it is best if cooked the least. Heat degrades vitamins and minerals, specifically vitamin C so cooking for the smallest amounts of time, or nit at all, will provide you with the most nutrients. However, it is a bit of a fallacy that cooked vegetables lack nutrition at all. Just keep this point in mind. If you do choose to cook your broccoli steaming has been shown to degrade the nutrients the least.
Links to follow up with:
Top 14 Health Benefits of Broccoli (healthline.com)
The History of Broccoli as a Food (thespruceeats.com)
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