YES! BROCCOLI CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
By Valerie Lunden, MA

    Why showcase Broccoli? Why not Broccoli? Really, where the vegetable is concerned Broccoli should be held in high esteem. Green, scrumptious and vitamin-filled, this gem should be a key component in any weight-loss management program. Is it possible to become a Brocoholic? Well, perhaps it is!

Indeed, steadily adding The Broc to any diet does wonders for the digestion. Taste-wise a yum-yum reaction would be far reaching, and eating large quantities does call for a discerning (and patient) palate. From an economic standpoint, broccoli is plentiful, inexpensive and documented to be good for you. As a bonus, broccoli is not known to be an obvious allergen, so breaking out or passing out probably won't happen, (but just on the safe side, check with your doctor).

How about serving sizes? What's suggested is about 2 cups, preferably at each main meal, eaten on most weekdays! Agreed, this could get boring, but remember, broccoli has more nutrition then basic lettuce, and here's a menu tip, always eat it with something fun like pasta, hamburgers or chicken pot pie. Now, don't go hog-wild, broccoli or a comparable veggie should always be the largest serving of food on your plate. Also, try planning ahead. Steam large batches so it is on hand, ready to eat in your fridge.

**The following nutritional information is the skinny on broccoli. Again, always get professional advice from your doctor before adding anything new to your diet. The following information has been gleaned from various Internet sources.

Broccoli Facts

Named after the Latin, Bracchium, which means strong-arm or branch.

• Rich in Vitamin A--Broccoli's dark green color is an indicator of its hearty carotene content. One half- cup of cooked Broccoli provides 1083 IU of vitamin A.
• Broccoli is folic acid abundant. About one-half cup, cooked, offers 39 mcg.
• One cup of cooked broccoli has as much Vitamin C as an orange. Consider picking The Broc over the orange. A rule anything that has an orange flavor is acidic and doesn't aid digestion.
• Broccoli offers 71.8 mg of calcium for a whole cup (cooked), as much calcium as 4 oz. of milk. Again, consider choosing the broccoli, it's kinder on the digestion.
• Think powerhouse of protein. Broccoli contains 2 grams of protein for one-half cup steamed. High Protein dieter's pig-out!
• Beta-carotene is found in broccoli florets and plenty of nutrition is found in the stems. Here's the list of other nutrients: Iron, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc.
• The best for the last--Fiber. 1 cup of broccoli has 5.6 grams of fiber. Most American enjoy 15 grams of dietary fiber, but experts agree that the body requirement should be at least 30 grams. 2 cups of broccoli at 2 meals a day would hit 2/3 of the daily desired amount!

**Paul AA, Southgate DAT: McCance and Widdowson's Composition of Foods. London: Medical Research Council, 1978