Amazing Benefits Of Cauliflower That You Don’t Know About
Cauliflower is one of the healthiest vegetables and part of the cruciferous family, of which broccoli is the best known. It consists of approximately 85% water and is very low in carbohydrates, proteins or fat, but is rich in important vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other phytonutrients.
We’ll be discussing all the amazing benefits of cauliflower in this article, so be sure to read on!
It is an ideal vegetable to add to your balanced diet because of its slimming qualities, as it is so low in calories. Best of all, this is a versatile food that can be eaten raw, steamed, and added to salads and many other recipes.
Want to learn more about why you should add cauliflower to your diet?
The benefits of cauliflower
It promotes heart health
Cauliflower contains a sulfur component called sulforaphane, which helps to improve blood pressure and problems with kidney function.
According to studies, sulforaphane may be related to the methylation of DNA. This is crucial for normal cellular functioning and proper gene expression. This is especially the case on the inside of the arteries, which are prone to damage.
It is anti-carcinogenic
The sulforaphane in cauliflower has been proven to be effective for killing cancer-causing cells and blocking tumor growth.
According to research, the removal of cells that cause cancer is very important to fight this disease. For example, some studies have shown that combining cauliflower with turmeric can be very effective in preventing and treating prostate cancer.
Animal studies have found that sulforaphane can help reduce the area and growth rate of tumors in the mammary glands.
In addition, other components found in cauliflower, such as indoles and isothiocyanates, have shown positive results in limiting the progression of cancers in the:
- Stomach
- Bladder
- Chest
- Colon
- Liver
- lung
It promotes the health of your brain
Another beneficial component found in cauliflower is choline, a B vitamin that plays an important role in healthy brain development.
Consuming choline during pregnancy can have amazing benefits for fetal brain activity and studies indicate that it can promote cognitive function, learning and memory.
It stimulates the detoxification of the body
Cauliflower contains antioxidants, which, in addition to other nutritional properties, also promote the cleansing of the body. In addition, the glucosinolates activate enzymes that aid in detoxification.
It has anti-inflammatory properties
Cauliflower contains a number of nutrients that are anti-inflammatory, such as indole-3-carbinol or I3C, an anti-inflammatory that helps prevent strong inflammatory reactions.
It improves digestion
Since it is an important source of fiber, cauliflower is a great ally for your digestive system.
In addition, according to World Healthiest Foods, eating cauliflower can help protect the lining of the stomach, while sulforaphane helps limit the growth of Helicobacter pylori bacteria and prevent them from adhering to the walls of that organ.
It is rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients
Eating cauliflower provides our bodies with antioxidants and phytonutrients, which are important in preventing various diseases. This vegetable includes:
- Vitamin C
- beta carotene
- Kaempferol
- Quercetin
- Rutin
- cinnamic acid
- And more
All of these antioxidants help the body protect itself from free radical damage. This also helps to slow down the aging process and prevent damage to tissues and organs.
How can we reap the benefits of cauliflower?
As we mentioned before , cauliflower is a very versatile vegetable that can be easily added to different recipes.
It’s a good idea to cook it whole or as small flowers. If you decide to cook it whole, make sure to rinse the leaves well in a bowl of water and vinegar to get them clean.
If you only want to cook small flowers, you should first carefully cut the cauliflower into pieces with a knife and then use the same way to wash them.
For best results, we recommend cooking cauliflower in a steamer. Then add a little turmeric to make its amazing health benefits even stronger.
