Spirit Food – Broccoli
ORIGIN
Broccoli is essentially a large edible flower. Broccoli is a human invention. It was carefully bred by Italian farmers more than 2,000 years ago out of the wild cabbage plant. It was cultivated to have a specific taste and flavour that was more palatable for people.
Wild cabbage has small flower buds and is a biennial. That means it only flowers every other year. In a controlled environment, it can be forced to reproduce itself many times. When an offspring of the cabbage grew with larger, tastier buds gardeners bred from this plant and threw away the less tasty plant. This gave birth to the vegetable now known as broccoli.
CHAKRA – HEART
PHYSICAL BENEFITS
Broccoli assists with digestion due to its high fibre content. It keeps the stomach lining healthy while maintaining healthy bacteria levels in the intestines.
It is nutrient-dense while being low in calories which can help with weight loss. The fibre in broccoli helps you stay fuller and more satiated.
As well as fibre, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K, folate, and vitamin A in broccoli help to boost the body’s metabolism. Fibre, especially, increases the thermic effect of food and can increase your metabolic rate after eating.
Vitamin K and choline helps boost cognition and memory.
Vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus keeps the bones and teeth strong which helps to prevent osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
The folate content in this vegetable is a great addition before and during pregnancy as it helps to ensure that there are no birth defects to the foetus.
Broccoli is high in chromium, this helps to regulate blood pressure and sugar levels.
It is rich in iron and protein to provide a remedy for anaemia. Copper, along with iron, is also another essential mineral in the production of red blood cells.
SPIRITUAL BENEFITS
Broccoli is there to remind you of the tree of life. Life is a journey. Whenever you are feeling insecure, nervous or under pressure connect with broccoli to provide you with the answers.
Broccoli is adaptable, it provides solutions to problems you thought were unsolvable.
Broccoli teaches you to not be so hard on yourself. Everyone in life is learning, no one is perfect. Reach out to others and share the journey.
Life is about growth. Sometimes it can be painful to grow in the right direction, this pain is only temporary, just like everything in life. Broccoli assists you in rekindling your love for yourself. It heals the heart chakra and opens you to greater feelings of love of others.
CONNECT WITH BROCCOLI
It is better to eat broccoli raw, steamed or roasted than boiled.
Roast some broccoli with olive oil and flaked almonds for a highly nutritious snack or side dish.
Blend broccoli with some olive oil, pine nuts and salt. This works as a tasty dip.
Add broccoli to soups. Broccoli can be eaten raw grated or in florets in salads.
Broccoli can be mashed in with other vegetables too.