Eating Bad Broccoli: What will Happen?
Short Answer: If you accidentally ate bad broccoli, you may have digestive problems, thyroid issues, or food poisoning, depending on how bad it is and how much you ate. Broccoli is a green vegetable that belongs to the cruciferous family, along with cauliflower, cabbage, and kale. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, and has many health benefits for the heart, brain, bones, immune system, and gut health. If you accidentally eat bad broccoli, you may experience some digestive discomfort, such as stomach pain, indigestion, gas, or bloating. This is because broccoli contains raffinose and glucosinolates, two compounds that can cause fermentation and sulfur production in the gut. Raffinose is a sugar that is hard to digest, and glucosinolates are sulfur-containing chemicals that give broccoli its pungent smell and taste. Raffinose and glucosinolates can also interfere with the function of the thyroid gland, especially if you have an iodine deficiency. They can block the uptake of iodine, which is needed to make thyroid hormones. This can lead to hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones to regulate the metabolism. Hypothyroidism can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, depression, slow heart rate, cold intolerance, dry skin, hair loss, constipation, and poor concentration. It is quite uncommon to eat bad broccoli, as most people can tell if it is spoiled by its appearance, smell, or taste. Broccoli that is bad will have yellow or brown spots, a slimy texture, a moldy odor, or a