Did you know that broccoli belongs to the species of plants called, Brassica oleracea? Here is some information on the health facts regarding a soup dish derived from the popular vegetable.

Winter calls for warm foods that have the potential to provide the body with comfort from the chilly weather. Most of us do not prefer cooking in the cold season so an ideal winter food must also be easy to prepare. Soups are known for their ease of preparation, health benefits and deliciousness. Broccoli has been a crucial part of every fitness diet. Coincidence? Definitely not. There are mainly three types of broccoli, sprouting broccoli, calabrese broccoli, and purple cauliflower and each variety holds immense health benefit potential. Here is what you need to know about popular fitness food, broccoli soup.

Broccoli is among the most nutritious and healthiest vegetables in the world today. It's also quite easy to consume as you can eat it raw in salads or in the form of a soup, either way, it's a superfood worth adding into your diet. Keep on reading to find out more about whether broccoli soup is good for you and the various broccoli soup benefits for skin and weight loss you should be aware of.

If you are looking to boosting your metabolism, then you should consider taking broccoli soup regularly. It's rich in vitamin C, calcium, and fiber which is great in improving your metabolism especially after eating. A good metabolism is essential for the proper functioning of major body parts.

Having broccoli soup on a regular basis can help you to quickly repair your skin while giving you a healthy and glowing look. For instance, broccoli is packed with antioxidants and vitamin C that slows down the aging process and boosts collagen production giving you ultimately beautiful and youthful skin. Additionally, the broccoli plant contains glucoraphanin that can help to repair and renew damaged skin. According to studies, broccoli soup can help protect against skin damage and dangerous UV radiation.

In conclusion, you can trust broccoli as a healthy winter food choice and can inculcate it in your diet. Despite the health benefits offered by the vegetable, some repercussions may befall if the preparation or portion of consumption is unhealthy. Here are some things you must consider during its preparation:

You can use extra-virgin olive oil instead of regular vegetable oil to lower the fat content significantly.

Make the broth (vegetable or chicken) less in fat and sodium content.

Avoid using cream in your soup. If you wish to do so, go for a low-fat cream and non-fat milk brand.

Here is a broccoli soup recipe you may be interested in.

Ingredients:

Broccoli – 500 gms

Onion (finely chopped) – ½ cups

Garlic cloves – 12

Olive oil – 1 tablespoon

Water – 2 cups

Milk – ½ cups

Nutmeg powder – ¼ teaspoon

Black pepper – ½ teaspoon

Salt to taste

Method:

1.Chop the broccoli into florets and soak them in water for 10 minutes.

2.After 10 minutes, drain all the water, rinse again, drain and prepare the broccoli for soup.

3.Heat a saucepan, add olive oil, chopped garlic and onions and sauté until the onions turn translucent.

4.Add the blanched and drained florets along with some water to cook and salt to taste.

5.Cook this until the florets are tender, switch off the flame and allow it to cool.

6.Transfer the florets into a mixture grinder and blend it without water.

7.Transfer the mixture into the saucepan, add nutmeg powder, black pepper and allow it to boil.

8.Add milk to the soup and serve it with accompaniments of your choice.