Cauliflower Benefits For Health
The health benefits of cauliflower include a reduced risk of cancer, heart and brain disorders, and relief from indigestion. It helps in boosting eye health, maintains hormone balance, detoxifies the body, and aids in weight loss. This vegetable also extends its benefits to keep you away from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, diabetes, colitis, respiratory papillomatosis, and hypertension. The antioxidant power of cauliflower helps in strengthening the immune system. It also aids in maintaining bone and cellular health, electrolyte balance, and optimum cholesterol levels.
What Is Cauliflower?
Cauliflower is a vegetable that belongs to the Brassicaceae family, which also includes broccoli, kale, and cabbage. It derives its name from Latin ‘caulis’ which means cabbage with a flower. The florets on the head of the cauliflower, also known as curd, are tightly clustered and consist of immature flower buds attached to a central stalk. To protect the flavor and softness of the cauliflower heads, they are kept away from the sunlight to prevent the development of chlorophyll pigment and over-maturity.
It is considered to be native to ancient Asia but re-emerged in the Mediterranean region, Turkey, and Italy in 600 BC. Around the mid-16th century, this vegetable achieved recognition in France and Northern Europe. Today, India, China, Italy, France, and the United States are among the top producers of cauliflower throughout the world.
Cauliflower Nutrition Facts
It is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Amongst vitamins, it contains vitamin C (ascorbic acid), folate, vitamin K (phylloquinone), vitamin B-6, vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), and E (alpha-tocopherol). It provides vital minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, and manganese without adding any harmful cholesterol. It is a source of protein and provides a very low amount of fats. A substantial amount of the fat it contains comes from unsaturated fats and essential omega-3 fatty acids. It also provides dietary fiber and contains smaller amounts of natural sugars as compared to the other members of its botanical relatives, such as broccoli.
It is available in four major groups: Asian, Italian, northwest European biennial, and northern European annuals, represented by more than a hundred varieties. Apart from white, it also comes in several other colorsmentioned below.
Green: Green cauliflower is referred to as broccoflower. It can be found in a normal curd shaped form as well as in a spiky variant called Romanesco broccoli.
Purple: The antioxidant group anthocyanins present in the purple cauliflower provides the color for this variety.
Orange: Orange cauliflower is very nutritious and contains an immense amount of vitamin A, as compared to the white variety.
Besides the delicious savory taste, it offers great nutritional value that can be attributed to the presence of power-packed phytochemicals, which help in fighting various diseases and promoting stronger immunity, while aiding in the maintenance of a clean system.
Cauliflower Health Benefits
Let us look at some of the important health benefits of cauliflower in detail:
Treats Respiratory Problems
it contains indole-3-carbinol, which is effective in the treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis caused by the human papillomavirus that affects the vocal cords in the larynx, trachea, lungs, and bronchi. Studies have shown that increased consumption of cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, aids in reducing the severity of respiratory papillomatosis.
Treats Nervous Disorders
The sulforaphane and indoles present in cauliflower play a key role in reducing the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. They activate the detoxification enzymes, which elevate the level of glutathione and help in treating the neuronal injuries caused by inflammation and oxidative stress in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Prevents Obesity
Cauliflower contains indoles, which possess anti-obesity effects. Studies have supported the fact that consumption of cauliflower is beneficial in preventing various inflammation and metabolic disorders in the body. It also helps in the stimulation of fat-burning thermogenesis and prevents obesity.
Improves Brain Health
Cauliflower contains choline and phosphorous, which are both effective in repairing cell membranes. This is essential for the efficient functioning of the brain and nervous system for transmitting nerve signals. In addition to this, the presence of potassium and vitamin B6 in cauliflower also plays an important role in maintaining brain health and promoting proper communication in the nerves by producing a range of required neurotransmitters, including dopamine and norepinephrine.
Prevents Cancer
Cauliflower contains glucosinolates, which break down to provide healthy compounds such as sulforaphane and isothiocyanates, called indole-3-carbinol. Studies have shown that these compounds have chemopreventive and anti-estrogen effects that help in hampering the growth of cancer cells. Research has provided supporting evidence for the fact that consumption of brassica vegetables such as cauliflower assists in reducing the risk of various types of cancers such as lung, bladder, breast, prostate, ovarian, and cervical cancer.
Improves Bone Health
Cauliflower contains vitamin C, which plays an important role in the production of collagen that protects the joints and bones from inflammatory damage. Also, it contains vitamin K, which may help in preventing bone loss in both men and women.
Maintains Electrolyte Balance
The potassium content in cauliflower helps in maintaining the electrolyte balance in the body, which is essential for the functioning of the nervous system in the transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contractions.
Helps in Pregnancy
The inclusion of cauliflower in your diet is beneficial during pregnancy due to the presence of essential folate, which helps in the healthy neural development of the baby. It also has various other essential vitamins and minerals, including fiber, which promote overall health.
Heals Colitis
Studies have suggested that extracts from cauliflower exert anti-inflammatory effects on the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. This protective effect can be attributed to the presence of phenethyl isothiocyanate, which exerts a healingeffect on the damage that has occurred in colon tissues and the colon epithelium.
Controls Diabetes
A regular intake of cauliflower helps in reducing the risk of diabetes due to the presence of vitamin C and potassium. The potassium content in cauliflower helps in regulating glucose metabolism. It is also utilized by the pancreas for secreting the insulin hormone for taking action against the raised levels of blood sugar in the body. Low levels of potassium in the body can eventually elevate the levels of blood sugar and pose a major threat for diabetics. In addition to this, studies have supported that the vitamin B-6 present in cauliflower is also effective in enhancing the tolerance of glucose in patients with gestational diabetes.
Prevents Stroke
Research suggests that the consumption of white flesh fruits and vegetables such as cauliflower helps in reducing the risk of stroke, due to the presence of the compound allicin, which also aids in the cleansing of the liver and the blood.
Heals Colitis
Studies have suggested that extracts from cauliflower exert anti-inflammatory effects on the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. This protective effect can be attributed to the presence of phenethyl isothiocyanate, which exerts a healingeffect on the damage that has occurred in colon tissues and the colon e
Maintains Electrolyte Balance
The potassium content in cauliflower helps in maintaining the electrolyte balance in the body, which is essential for the functioning of the nervous system in the transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contractions.
Reduces Hypertension
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the glucoraphanin and sulforaphane present in cauliflower help in reducing oxidative stress, along with the levels of LDL and total cholesterol. It also promotes the stimulation of HDL cholesterol and lowers the blood pressure. In addition to this, the fiber and omega-3 fatty acids present in cauliflower also aid in the reduction of bad cholesterol and prevents hardening of the arteries. These are The Best Cauliflower Benefits.
Other Benefits
Cauliflower also promotes hair growth and healthy skin, due to the presence of sulfur and silicon, which also promote the development of blood hemoglobin in the body.
