Cauliflower, This Vegetable With Still Unknown Benefits
Cauliflower is a very versatile vegetable rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. To multiply its effects, we recommend that you add a little turmeric.
Cauliflower is a very healthy vegetable, from the cruciferous plant family, to which green broccoli also belongs.
It is composed of approximately 85% water, does not contain carbohydrates, proteins and fats but is a very rich source of important nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and many other phytochemicals..
It is ideal as part of a balanced diet but also for a slimming diet, because it provides few calories. Its greatest advantage is that it is multifunctional because it can be eaten raw, steamed, in salads and in many different dishes.
Still need more reasons to include cauliflower in your diet?
He takes care of our heart
Cauliflower contains a substance called sulforaphane which is a component of sulfur. It helps us improve our blood pressure and kidney function.
According to some studies, sulforaphane may be linked to DNA methylation, one of the keys to healthy cell function and adequate gene expression. Particularly in the internal part of the arteries, the most prone to damage.
It prevents and fights against cancer
The sulforaphane contained in cauliflower is a compound which has been shown to be effective in eliminating the stem cells responsible for cancer, by blocking the growth of the tumor.
According to some investigations, killing cancer stem cells may be one of the keys to controlling this disease. For example, and still according to these studies, the combination between cauliflower and curcumin (active ingredient in turmeric) can be very effective in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.
In animal studies, sulforaphane has been shown to reduce the incidence and impact of breast tumors.
In addition, other components of cauliflower, such as indoles and isothiocyanates, have been shown to be effective in inhibiting the development of bladder, breast, colon, liver, lung and cancer. stomach.
It takes care of our brain
One of the other beneficial elements in cauliflower is choline, a group B vitamin that plays a very important role in the health and development of our brain.
In fact, consuming choline during pregnancy can provide significant benefits to fetal brain activity . This results in improved cognitive function, learning and memory.
It stimulates the detoxification of the body
Cauliflower contains antioxidants which, when combined with the nutrients in sulfur, stimulate activities that result in the elimination of toxins from the body.
In addition, its glucosinolate content also helps activate enzymes that lead to detoxification of the body.
It has anti-inflammatory properties
Cauliflower contains a large amount of anti-inflammatory nutrients, including indole-3-carbinol, also known as I3C, which is a component that helps us prevent inflammatory reactions in an important way.
It is good for our digestive system
Cauliflower has a lot of fiber and is therefore the ally of our digestive health. According to World’s Healthiest Foods, consuming cauliflower can help us protect the lining of our stomachs.
In fact, sulforaphane helps prevent the proliferation of bacteria of the Helicobacter pylori type in the stomach and prevents them from sticking to its walls.
It is rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients
The consumption of cauliflower provides our body with a large amount of antioxidants and phytonutrients which are key elements in preventing many diseases.
This plant contains vitamin C, beta-carotene, kaempferol, quercetin, cinnamic acid and many other substances. These antioxidants help the body protect itself against free radical damage.
It also helps to delay the aging of our body and prevents damage to our organs and tissues.
How to enjoy the benefits of cauliflower?
As we said at the beginning of our article, cauliflower is a very versatile plant, that is to say that it is used in a very large number of preparations. It is ideal to cook it entirely or in bunches.
If you want to cook it whole, it is recommended to remove its leaves and then immerse it in water and vinegar to clean it properly. If you want to taste it in bunches, the ideal is to cut it well with a knife and perform the same meticulous cleaning.
For best results, it is advisable to steam the cauliflower, adding a little turmeric to increase its incredible health benefits.
