Cauliflower Is Not Green But It Is Healthy
By Paul Rothbart
Much is said about the importance of green vegetables to good nutrition and health. It is of course true that green vegetables are one of the best foods you can add to your diet. Vegetables of other colors also have plenty to contribute nutritionally. Cauliflower has white, yellow, and purple varieties. There is no green but it is a very nutritious food with plenty of health benefits. It makes a great side dish on its own, can be combined with other vegetables, and makes a great rice substitute. Cauliflower can also be used to make a healthy, low-carb pizza crust. This delicious vegetable is pretty amazing.
Nutrition
One cup of cauliflower has only 25 calories and three grams of fiber. It also contains many vital nutrients. That one-cup serving has 77 percent of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C and 20 percent of the recommended Vitamin K. It also has 14 percent of the RDA of folate and 11 percent of the RDA of Vitamin B6. In addition to these nutrients, a serving of cauliflower contains significant amounts of manganese, magnesium, potassium, pantothenic acid, and phosphorus. With all of this nutrition, cauliflower can't help but boost your health.
It Can Help With Weight Loss
For people trying to lose weight, cauliflower is an excellent food to add to the diet. With its low-calorie content and fiber, you can fill yourself up and reduce hunger pangs that can lead to excess snacking. The fiber can slow down digestion and help you feel satisfied for longer periods of time. Cauliflower's weight is 92 percent water. Research has found that water-dense foods are an aid in losing weight.
It Has Antioxidants
Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable. Members of this plant family are high in isothiocyanates and glucosinolates. These are both powerful antioxidants that can fight free radicals and reduce inflammation. These properties can slow down the growth of cancer cells as found by numerous studies. Test-tube studies have found these antioxidants to be particularly effective in lessening the risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancer. Two other groups of antioxidants, flavonoids and carotenoids are also present in cauliflower. In addition to reducing cancer risk, these antioxidants can help prevent heart disease.
It Has Choline
Many people have a choline deficiency and cauliflower has plenty of this lesser-known but important nutrient. Choline synthesizes DNA, supports metabolism, and maintains cell membrane integrity. It also helps produce neurotransmitters and aids brain development making for a healthy central nervous system. One of choline's most important functions is preventing the accumulation of cholesterol in the liver. Higher risk of liver disease, as well as dementia and Alzheimer's, are consequences of a choline deficiency.
Vegetables are important to nutrition and health, but it's not just the green ones. Cauliflower is among the healthiest of vegetables and should be a part of everyone's diet.
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