Men\'s Health UK - 10.2019

20 MEN’S HEALTH

01 GREEN GOBBLIN’

02

CLOSE SHAVE

A

BROCCOLI

This superfood is no longer just a soggy

side dish for chicken and brown rice.

Here’s how to upgrade your bland

bodybuilder fare into the main event

THE HEALTH SNOB’S GUIDE TO

ROMANESCO

You may have to look slightly harder

for this variety than a trip around

Tesco. However, it’s worth the effort.

Scientists believe that this variety

stimulates the development of

mesenchymal stem cells, which

are key to bulking up your biceps.

B

D

C PURPLE SPROUTING

The eponymous hue is about more

than just looking good. Purple

in veg is an indication it contains

a healthy dose of anthocyanins.

These are potent antioxidants

that your body mops up to protect

against heart disease.

LONG STEM

Calabrese’s skinny sidekick has a

similar nutritional make-up to its big

brother, but it offers extra benefits,

too. After all, it’s waste-free, requires

almost no prep, and is notably high

in vitamin A, which can help to lower

your risk of developing cancer.

Some clichés ring true. Others do not. It’s not news that broccoli

is a nutritional powerhouse. But it’s fake news that it amounts

to nothing more than a tasteless side for your post-training

Tupperware. By expanding your repertoire of brassica and

updating your cooking methods, Michael Thompson, the head

chef of Cub (lyancub.com), proves that you can make the

nutritious truly delicious. It’s time you switched to green energy.

CALABRESE

You probably know this variety as

plain old “broccoli” and there’s a

good reason you see calabrese in

everyone’s trolley. Not only is it full of

vitamins and fibre, but research says

the sulforaphane fires up your brown

fat tissue to spike your metabolism.

The first thing you need

to learn on your way to

becoming a broccoli

connoisseur? There are

better ways than furiously

boiling until it’s sad and

soggy. “Broccoli is meant

to be served crunchy and

fresh,” Thompson says.

You’ll notice that, when it’s

boiled, the water you drain

away is green. That’s all

the good stuff lost down

the plug hole. Keep your

cooking, in Thompson’s

words, “short and precise”:

sauté it, fry it or roast it

in a top-quality tin (£30

lakeland.com). Just keep

the florets away from boiling

water. If you really want

to go gastro, try shaving

the veg to create delicate

stalk strips, or broccoli

“couscous” with the florets.

Thompson recommends

using a mandoline (£42

uk.zwilling-shop.com),

but those in a hurry can

cheat it with a mini chopper

(£60 johnlewis.com).

We won’t tell.