Your parents knew what was up when they told you to eat your broccoli. This verdant vegetable is a powerhouse of nutrients. It's reputed to benefit digestion, the cardiovascular system and the immune system, and to have anti-inflammatory and even cancer-preventing properties. Plus, broccoli is low in sodium and calories, at about 31 calories per serving. It's also a fat-free vegetable.

A member of the cruciferous vegetable family, cousin to cabbage and cauliflower, broccoli is a great source of:
- Immune-supportive vitamin C
- Anti-inflammatory vitamin K
- Heart-healthy folate
- Free-radical-scavenging vitamin A
- Enzyme-activating manganese and molybdenum
- Digestive-health-supporting fiber
- Heart-healthy potassium and vitamin B6
- Energy-producing vitamin B2 and phosphorus
- Energy-producing vitamin B1, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, protein, and iron
- Bone-healthy magnesium and calcium
- Antioxidant-supportive vitamin E and selenium
- Beneficial phytonutrients