Benefits of Broccoli Powder

Broccoli, a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables, contains high levels of healthy compounds called glucosinolates. When you chop broccoli or chew it, these compounds become activated and can provide beneficial health properties. If you aren't able to consume enough broccoli in your diet, broccoli powder is a convenient source of this nourishing vegetable, offering many of the same health benefits in a more concentrated form .

Broccoli powder fights cancer, says Victor Zeines, author of the book "Living a Longer Life." Rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant with anti-cancer effects and high quantities of calcium and folate for healthy cell and tissue growth, broccoli powder is a terrific way to obtain an cancer-inhibiting nutritional boost at any meal.

Fibromyalgia patients may benefit from adding broccoli to their diets, says certified clinical nutritionist Elizabeth Lipski, author of the book "Digestive Wellness." Lipski recommends combining broccoli powder with ascorbigen, a compound found in brassica vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, that prevents absorption of toxins. The combination has been known to reduce fibromyalgia symptoms by as much as 20 percent. The pair of supplements are typically taken in doses of 100 mg ascorbigen with 400 mg broccoli powder.

Broccoli may lose a certain amount of the antioxidant mineral selenium during processing into powder form and during storage, according to Atif B. Awad, author of the book "Nutrition and Cancer Prevention." This may occur in spite of storage at very cold temperatures. Broccoli powder stored at -10 degrees Centigrade lost 60 percent of its selenium content within a period of four years. This disadvantage can be circumvented by obtaining fresh broccoli powder from reputable sources and using it within a few weeks of purchase. Also, the concentrated effect of broccoli powder makes it possible to consume more broccoli in powder form than you would be able to in the fresh vegetable form, potentially making up for any processing or storage-related loss of nutrients.

Liver, colon and prostate health may improve with broccoli powder supplementation, according to a study published in the August 2009 issue of the "Journal of Food and Agricultural Science." In the study, liver and colon, two important organs of detoxification and elimination, responded well to broccoli powder-supplemented diets for seven days in laboratory animals, showing increased activity of antioxidants and enzymes involved in detoxification. Additionally, levels of prostate antioxidant activity increased. The study was conducted at the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.