Health wise, broccoli is actively good for reducing inflammation, body immunity, heart health and blood sugar level. It is very low in calories and the richness in fiber makes it good for weight loss. This article is going to talk about broccoli as a food choice for bearded dragons.
CAN BEARDED DRAGON EAT BROCCOLI?
BROCCOLI
This is an umbrella shaped green plant with a large flowery top area. It is a member of the cabbage family with small clustered leaves consumable in the form of vegetables. It is classified as a specie of brassica oleracea. It is a short plant that grows not too far from the ground maintaining the height of a plant stem and kind of look like the shape of a mushroom. The height measurement of a broccoli plant is 18 to 36 inches and has broad thick leaves and stalk. Single or multiple flower heads are commonly used in identifying a broccoli plant. Green, purple, white are colors associated with the flower stalk. Late winter or early springs are target seasons for planting broccoli. This particular vegetable is grown in Mediterranean areas which is why it was first cultivated in Italy one of the countries situated in the western part of the European continent.
HEALTH BENEFIT OF BROCCOLI TO BEARDED DRAGON
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HEALTHY BONES AND TEETH:
Strong bones are needed essentially by animals. They have no sense of reasoning if not we might say they would build up some sort of technology that would make life easier for them but that is not the case. They live based on the concept of survival of the fittest, meaning they need healthy bones to be able to defend themselves, run in pursuit of their prey or at the sight of danger, to climb hills and trees just like the bearded dragon does and strong teeth to feed effectively as they mostly feed on either raw strong fleshy meat or natural fruits. Ensuring your bearded dragons have healthy bones is one of the reasons broccoli can be fed to them. It has vitamin k and calcium in it which gives health to the bones.
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WEIGTH LOSS:
Obesity is one thing that happens to the body gradually without you knowing. It brings about body size expansion which might be caused by unguided intake of foods with high calories. Obesity is not a disease but can be as a result of excess fat storage in the body which can affect the heart and the kidney simultaneously. Incase you notice this in your bearded dragon it is encouraged to change their diet and put them on a low calorie and high fiber diet just like broccoli offers.
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HEART EFFECTIVENESS:
The heart is the part of the body that makes you know you are still alive when you can still feel it beating. Pumping of blood and distribution of blood through body veins to other parts of the body are both the central function of the heart. This area needs to be well protected as it is what stands between life and death in both man and animal. Broccoli is rich in fibers, fatty acid and vitamins which helps a lot with blood pressure regulation and cholesterol reduction. The blood vessels which support blood circulation are protected from getting damaged just by the consumption of broccoli.
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BODY IMMUNITY:
Antioxidants are very much present in broccoli which are good if present in the system of your dragon. Judging from the function of vitamin C from healthy growth, tissue repair, iron absorption to proper functioning of immune system, healing wounds and maintenance of cartilage, bones and teeth. Broccoli inclusion to your dragon’s diet is a way to protect and build the immunity of your dragon against external infections.
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GOOD SIGHT:
Bearded dragons need their eyes to spot their food and their prey during feeding. They feed on insects and worms which comes in small sizes. Faulty eye sight cannot enable them spot insects and worms easily. If you are conversant with animals or pets you will know that they cannot hunt what they cannot spot with their eyes. Therefore, the vitamin A present in broccoli makes it suitable for your dragons in order to develop stronger vision.
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DEHYDRATION:
Broccoli has high water content in it which is a big plus coming from the angle of feeding it to a bearded dragon. Constant supply of water to the body of a bearded dragon is important to prevent hydration hazards. It reduces the stress of having to specially give it water. Water is a life support and no one or animal should starve of it.
SIDE EFFECT OF BROCCOLI ON BEARDED DRAGON
- Too much intake or regular intake of broccoli by your dragon can bring about bloating due to the high content of water present in it.
- Normally calcium ought to be higher than phosphorus in any food they ingest but in broccoli the reverse is the case and that can hinder the absorption of calcium into the body.
- Oxalic acid is present in broccoli therefore excessive consumption by your pet dragon can cause calcium deficiency as it binds with calcium and prevents absorption into the blood stream. Leading to degeneration, weak bones and stunted growth.
HOW TO FEED BROCCOLI TO BEARDED DRAGONS
- Consumption of broccoli by your bearded dragon should be once or twice in a month.
- Rinse well in clean water before serving to your dragon so as to get rid of pesticide chemicals and sticky harmful substances.
- Slice or shred to make consumption and digestion a lot easier for your dragon.
- Serve raw and not cooked to enable the dragon enjoy every bit of the broccolis nutritional value at the richest.
IN CONCLUSION
Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable that belong to the category of cauliflower, brussels sprout, lettuce, kohlrabi, asparagus, spinach, wild cabbage, cucumber, celery, wild carrot, and the list goes on. The two most interesting part of a broccoli plant is that, it is one of the highest water consuming plant. No wonder it has high water content and also low in calories which encourages consumption to maximum satisfaction without worries of calorie counts. Bearded dragons can gain a lot from this vegetable considering the fact that it has a lot of nutritional benefits ranging from vitamins to minerals, vitamin A, C, K, Potassium, fiber, manganese, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, zinc, iron, phosphorus and a few others.
