Are the nutrients in vegetables evenly distributed though the plant, stalks and all?

Question

Is the top part of the broccoli (sprouts) more nutrient rich than the bottom part (the stalks) or are the nutrients distributed evenly?

Answer 1

To simply answer your question with out a lot of explantion...... No

Answer 2

No.different in different organs.

Answer 3

It depends on the particular plant and the nutrients in question.

Broccoli, for example has lots of minerals - these are distributed more or less evenly throughout the plant. Its antioxidants: carotenoids, xanthophylls, anthocyanidins etc... however, are found in higher concentrations in the florets. (They are the chemicals that give the plant its dark green color.)

The same is true with many other vegetables and fruits. Often times these chemicals act as a "sunscreen" for a particular part of the plant - preventing DNA damage from the Sun's UV rays (apple peels - anthocyanidins, orange pith - vitamin C, spinach - B carotene).

When you get a suntan your brain and liver don't produce melanin; just your skin. To produce it elsewhere would be a waste of energy and resources. Therefore; uneven distribution.