Food – Cauliflower

“A cauliflower is nothing but a cabbage with a college education.” Mark Twain

Include cauliflower as one of the cruciferous vegetables you eat on a regular basis if you want to receive the fantastic health benefits provided by the cruciferous vegetable family. As with all vegetables be sure not to overcook cauliflower. As an excellent source of vitamin C, and a very good source of manganese, cauliflower provides us with two core conventional antioxidants. … Cauliflower provides us with one of the hallmark anti-inflammatory nutrients.

The fiber content of cauliflower—over 9 grams in every 100 calories—makes this cruciferous vegetable a great choice for digestive system support. Yet the fiber content of cauliflower is only one of its digestive support mechanisms. Researchers have determined that the sulforaphane made from a glucosinolate in cauliflower (glucoraphanin) can help protect the lining of your stomach. Sulforaphane provides you with this health benefit by preventing bacterial overgrowth of Helicobacter pylori in your stomach or too much clinging by this bacterium to your stomach wall.

Cauliflower, a cruciferous vegetable, is in the same plant family as broccoli, kale, cabbage and collards. It has a compact head (called a “curd”), with an average size of six inches in diameter, composed of undeveloped flower buds. The flowers are attached to a central stalk. When broken apart into separate buds, cauliflower looks like a little tree, something that many kids are fascinated by.

Choose cauliflower heads that are surrounded by many thick green leaves. Store uncooked cauliflower in a paper or plastic bag in the refrigerator, stem side down, where it will keep for up to a week. Cauliflower contains phytonutrients that release odorous sulfur compounds when heated. To retain the vegetable’s crisp texture, and reduce nutrient loss, cook the cauliflower for only a short time. www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=13

Cauliflower also contains vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine) and B9 (folic acid). It serves as a good source of proteins, phosphorus and potassium. www.3fatchicks.com/5-health-benefits-of-cauliflower/