How to Use Cruciferous Vegetables for Anti-Aging

Cruciferous vegetables have long been known for their anti-cancer properties, which are among the strongest and most powerful in the vegetable kingdom. However, they also have strong anti-aging properties which come from their high concentrations of antioxidants and sulfur. Both antioxidants and sulfur are known for promoting healthy skin and increased energy. Cruciferous vegetables include such favorites as broccoli and cauliflower, as well as some less frequently eaten things as cabbage and Brussels sprouts. It's pretty simple to learn to use cruciferous vegetables for anti-aging.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Cruciferous vegetables
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Balsamic vinegar
• Sea salt

1. Eat a salad containing raw cauliflower and raw broccoli once a day, preferably at lunch. The anti-aging properties of cruciferous vegetables such as these are at their highest when the vegetables are raw.
2. Eat steamed broccoli with garlic and olive oil three times a week. All three of these ingredients have powerful anti-aging properties that increase in effectiveness when they are used together.
3. Eat steamed cauliflower two times a week. Don't boil it, as the beneficial properties will release into the cooking water and get thrown away along with it. Steaming locks in the anti-aging compounds. Eat the cauliflower with olive oil and a pinch of sea salt, or with cheese sauce, if desired.
4. Take a cruciferous vegetable extract supplement every day. You can get this kind of supplement in capsule form at almost any health food store. If you prefer to not take capsules, you can also get cruciferous extract in powder form to mix in a glass of water or juice.
5. Roast some Brussels sprouts along with a selection of root vegetables once a week in the fall. Drizzle to roasted vegetables with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar to serve. This is a delicious way to get an alternative to broccoli and cauliflower into your diet.

Tips & Warnings

• Cruciferous vegetables can sometimes smell bad in the kitchen while cooking, especially cabbage. Keep a bottle of spray air freshener handy to alleviate this problem.
• It is hard for some people to use cruciferous vegetables because of their high concentrations of sulfur. The sulfur can cause gas and other kinds of stomach upsets. Keeping an antacid around or eating a few fennel seeds after the use of cruciferous vegetables can prevent these types of discomfort.
• The stems of broccoli are often tough to eat raw. They're very healthy, so try steaming them to eat them. However, if you're using raw broccoli, you should trim off the stems and only use the florets.