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Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable that is related to broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, and Bok choy. Although cauliflower is usually white, there are orange, green, and purple varieties. No matter which color you choose, the mild flavor is the same, according to WebMD.
This highly versatile vegetable can be used in almost anything. You can use cauliflower as a potato, pasta, or bread replacement. But besides being delicious, this vegetable is incredibly good for you. Check out these five healthy benefits of eating cauliflower.
Highly nutritious
Just one cup (100 grams) of chopped cauliflower served either raw or cooked contains 100 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin C and 25 percent of vitamin K. But that’s not all. Cauliflower also contains vitamin B6, folate, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, and protein. This healthy vegetable is also high in dietary fiber and rich in antioxidants. You should add this highly nutritious vegetable to your diet.
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Good Source of Antioxidants
Cauliflower is a rich source of antioxidants that help to protect your body from free radicals and inflammation, according to Healthline. That’s because this cruciferous vegetable contains glucosinolates and isothiocyanates that may slow the growth of some cancers and flavonoids that help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases including heart disease. The vitamin C in cauliflower may also reduce inflammation and help boost your immunity.
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Aids Digestion
Cauliflower is high in fiber and also contains a large amount of water. Both are important for helping to prevent digestive conditions like constipation, irritable bowel disease, and diverticulitis. Eating enough fiber helps to feed the good bacteria in your gut and that reduces inflammation and helps promote a healthy gut. Replace white grains with cauliflower and get a fiber boost.
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May Help Memory
Cauliflower is a good source of choline, a recently discovered important nutrient, according to Healthline. Choline is an essential element – that isn’t classified as a vitamin or mineral –, but it plays a very important role in your health. That’s because choline is required to produce acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, brain development, learning, and memory.
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Promotes Strong Bones
The vitamin K in Cauliflower could help with bone health according to Medical News Today. That’s because consuming enough of this vitamin improves calcium absorption and prevents excreting calcium in urine. A low level of Vitamin K can lead to a higher risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis. The vitamin K in cauliflower also helps with blood clotting.
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