All Things Broccoli (video below)

We at AlignWell Chiropractic fall under the umberella of holistic and alternative because we rely on drug-free alternatives to health and wellness including principled chiropractic care. Never mind that catagorizing drug-free as alternative discredits anything deemed holistic to maintain pharamceutical customers and current belief systems in The United States, a topic for another time.

Nonetheless, I suppose this is why we pour into these blogs and email marketing for it. We strive to be the best Chiropractic Office in Holland, MI and we do this by encouraging people to lead their best possible lives. Health is wealth and we want to invest our time to encourage you to invest in yourselves while simultaniously supporting those in our community that help nourish us, our local farmers! We believe food is medicine and eating good fuel can make a lasting impact, so let’s dive into this weeks produce highlight!

Broccoli is a staple at our house because it’s quick, easy, and nutritious. Now that the kids are out of school we are busier than ever making quick and easy the theme for our meals.

Brocolli is rich in Vitamins C & K which aid in growth, development, function and repair of all body tissues as well as blood clotting. These vital nutrients help our bodies function properly and should be reason enough to include them in your meals on a regular basis. But if you need more convincing, broccoli also contains Vitamins B6 & E!

These nutrients are not often talked about when it comes to immune health but are total workhorses for the immune system. 

Vitamin B6 plays a vital role in biochemical reactions as they pertain to the immune system. Research has shown that when ill people increased their intake of B6, it increased their immune response by improving the production of white blood cells, specifically T-cells! 

You can find B6 in many meats, specifically organ meats, but if that’s not your jam it can also be found in cruciferous veggies like broccoli and kale, bananas, soy products, and even peanut butter! 

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, which helps fight against oxidative stress and free radical damage in the body. When there is too much oxidative stress in the body, T-cells can become damaged and die off as they fight pathogens or viruses in the body, making the viruses impossible to destroy. Vitamin E protects the T-cell membrane from damage and death, so they can successfully multiply and fend off the invader! Amazing right? 

Vitamin E can be found in many nuts like peanuts, almonds, dark green veggies like spinach and broccoli! 

Steam up some broccoli and make an Asian inspired sauce for it using peanut butter and soy sauce for a healthy dose of Vitamins K, C, B6, E, and protein! 

Toss in more stir fry veggies, meat (if that’s your thing),  some rice, and you’ve got a quick and nutritious dinner in under 30 minutes!