Powerhouse Super Food

Coaxing children to eat vegies is a fun process. Broccoli is really easy - just tell the kids we are eating green trees and it really excites their imagination.

Broccoli is one of nature's best super foods, a nutrient-packed vegetable that provides the body with a wide range of vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants. Very few kilojoules, like its relatives cabbage and cauliflower, broccoli has been shown to reduce the risk of bowel cancer. The ingredients responsible are the strong-smelling sulfur compounds known as indoles and isothiocyanates, which seem to 'switch on' cancer-fighting enzymes and block carcinogens from entering the body.

Another dietary factor that keeps the bowel healthy is broccoli's high fibre content. This soluble form of fibre is ultra-filling and good for appetite control, as well as helping to lower blood cholesterol in a similar way to oats, by binding to the cholesterol and 'sweeping' it out of the bowel, preventing it from being reabsorbed into the body where it causes health problems.

Cook broccoli carefully, as boiling will reduce its nutrient content by about half. To minimise the loss of nutrients, use as little water as possible and bring it to the boil before adding the broccoli. Cook until just tender when the stalk is pierced with a knife, then serve immediately. Or steam or microwave it, so you don't need to use any water at all.

I definitely steam my vegies, especially broccoli, even then one has to be vigilant not to overcook. Blanching may be the best or even raw in salads for crunch. Cook with stock, garlic and onion, then puree to make soup.

Mannatech's products are at the cutting-edge of nutritional science. Their glyconutrients, containing broccoli, are necessary for optimal health and wellbeing.