01/28/2024
I knew broccoli was good for your pups and that cruciferous veggies have anti-cancer properties but I didn't know the importance of chopping the pieces so tiny. Always learning. 😉
🥦 If you’re not preparing broccoli this way, you’re not helping to prevent cancer, according to science!🔬
If you want your dog (or cat!) to reap all of the longevity benefits inside this cruciferous veggie, how you prepare it makes a BIG difference.
Many people cut broccoli into florets or bite-size pieces, cook it, then serve it - to themselves and their pets. And yes, of course, there is a whole host of beneficial nutrients and fiber in broccoli prepared this way.
But with some small but very significant changes to the way you prepare broccoli, you can put a lot more of the powerhouse bioactive sulforaphane into the bowl, along with the fiber and nutrients.
Studies show that sulforaphane - found in high levels in broccoli - has potent anti-cancer effects. So if your dog or cat is fighting cancer, or if you’re proactively doing all you can to prevent it, adding sulforaphane is a smart move. In addition, sulforaphane can decrease inflammation, prevent type 2 diabetes, and detoxify heavy metals, mycotoxins, and Maillard reaction products (MRPs). These MRPs are often found in ultra-processed pet food, so you can substantially improve a bowl of kibble by adding broccoli.
💡Here’s the trick: you can dramatically increase the sulforaphane content with two simple kitchen hacks!
How it works: When you buy fresh broccoli (and the fresher, the better when it comes to sulforaphane), the sulforaphane hasn’t been “unlocked” yet. Instead, its precursor, glucoraphanin, is waiting to combine with an enzyme called myrosinase. Damaging broccoli cells (by chopping, grinding, chewing) activates the myrosinase so that it can convert glucoraphanin into sulforaphane.
🔪Step 1: Finely chop fresh broccoli and activate that myrosinase! (Researchers found that chopping broccoli into 2 mm pieces maximized the myrosinase activity). In a rush? Whiz it up in a food processor.
⏱Step 2: Let it rest. Studies also show that letting the chopped broccoli sit for 90 minutes or longer tripled the sulforaphane levels, compared to serving the broccoli right away.
🌱But what about frozen broccoli or broccoli sprouts? For even more hacks on what you can do with your broccoli…head over to the Forever Dog LIFE Learning Lab and watch our recent session. This FREE masterclass community group is available now if you have pre-ordered our upcoming second book, The Forever Dog LIFE. We're covering more hacks, tips and recipes from our new book! To learn more www.foreverdoglife.com/learninglab
