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Vegetables

Broccoli

Broccoli is a usually green vegetable in the cabbage family, with tender florets and an edible stalk. It is known for its vitamin C, folate and fibre content.

Food6 sources
Hand-painted illustration of a broccoli head with a green stalk.

The parts of broccoli you eat are its unopened flower buds and stalk. Enjoy the florets raw in salads, steamed as a side dish or cooked in soups; the peeled stalk can be sliced and used too. Its flavour is mild to slightly cabbage-like. Nutrient amounts are listed per 100 g with a source reference; whether the broccoli is raw or cooked matters when reading these values.

Broccoli: florets and stalk

Broccoli is a usually green vegetable in the cabbage family. The edible parts are its unopened flower buds, which form the florets, and its stalk. Its flavour is mild, with a slight cabbage-like taste.

You can eat the florets raw in a salad, steam them or cook them in soup. Peel and slice the stalk to use it too. The nutrient figures refer to 100 g of raw broccoli; cooked broccoli may have different values.

Broccoli can cause bloating in some people. If you notice discomfort, adjust the portion to suit your tolerance; avoiding it altogether is usually not necessary.

Nutrients

Safety information

  • Side effect

    Gas in people with sensitive digestion

    Broccoli can cause gas in some people. If you notice discomfort, adjust portion sizes to your tolerance; complete avoidance is usually unnecessary. [1]

  • Interaction

    Keep intake consistent when taking warfarin

    If you take warfarin or another vitamin K antagonist, substantial changes in vitamin K intake can affect anticoagulation. You do not need to avoid broccoli routinely: keep intake reasonably consistent and discuss major dietary changes with your anticoagulation service. This warning does not apply automatically to all anticoagulants. [2]

  • Contraindication

    Avoid broccoli if you have a confirmed allergy

    Avoid broccoli if you have a confirmed broccoli allergy. Allergy to another cruciferous vegetable does not automatically mean that you are allergic to broccoli. [3]

  • Caution

    Consider iodine status when discussing thyroid concerns

    With adequate iodine intake, reasonable amounts of broccoli are not considered a concern because of its goitrogenic constituents. If you have iodine deficiency or thyroid disease, seek individual advice about unusually high raw intakes; blanket avoidance is not justified. [4]

  • Upper level

    No established upper intake limit for broccoli as food

    The supplied research identified no authoritative broccoli-specific maximum in grams per day. This does not establish a numerical maximum portion or imply that unlimited amounts are well tolerated. [5]

Frequently asked questions

Which parts of broccoli can you eat?

The florets and stalk are edible.

Which plant family does broccoli belong to?

Broccoli belongs to the Brassicaceae family, also known as the cabbage family.

Can broccoli cause bloating?

Broccoli may cause bloating in people with sensitive digestion.

Do I need to be careful with broccoli when taking warfarin?

If you take warfarin, try to keep your broccoli intake as consistent as possible.

Are raw broccoli sprouts safe to eat?

Raw sprouts can contain pathogens; vulnerable groups should avoid them.

  • Spinach

    Spinach is a green leafy vegetable. The food consists of the edible leaves of the plant Spinacia oleracea.

Sources

  1. 01National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesEating, Diet, & Nutrition for Gas in the Digestive TractOpen source
  2. 02NHSWarfarin: medicine used to prevent and treat blood clotsOpen source
  3. 03The Safety of Cruciferous Plants in Humans: A Systematic ReviewOpen source
  4. 04National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary SupplementsIodine — Fact Sheet for ConsumersOpen source
  5. 05European Food Safety AuthorityDietary reference valuesOpen source
  6. 06ANSES – French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety – Ciqual French food composition table · 2025Broccoli, raw (CIQUAL 20057)Open source