By Sue Bedford (MSc Nutritional Therapy)
There was a reason that you were told to eat your Broccoli!
Along with the other cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, bok choy, brussel sprouts, cabbage, turnips, and kale – it can help to balance your hormones naturally!
Broccoli, along with the other vegetables in the same family, contains a substance called diindolylmethane (DIM), which supports the excretion of used hormones such as oestrogen and prevents their re-uptake which helps to reduce hot flushes, mood swings and joint pain. As broccoli contains calcium as well as a multitude of other nutrients, it can also help with bone strength too.
Broccoli soup
Ingredients
800g broccoli heads, roughly chopped
1 litre/1¾ pints vegetable stock
1 tbsp olive oil
1 finely chopped onion
150ml/5fl oz natural yoghurt or cream (optional)
1 finely chopped clove of garlic
1 tsp ground coriander and cumin (optional)
Method
Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and fry until just softened. Add the chopped broccoli and vegetable stock. Bring the mixture to the boil and then simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, or until the broccoli is tender. Add the yoghurt or cream (optional) and stir. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Add the ground cumin and ground coriander and simmer for a further 1-2 minutes (optional) or season to taste as required with black pepper/pinch of salt. Blend and enjoy!
