We usually see cauliflower in various dishes and cuisines in various regions of the world. But do you know what can it give your body? In fact, cauliflower possesses a lot of essential nutrients. These nutrients are what make up all the necessary health benefits of cauliflower. Some of these health benefits are the increase in iron absorption, aiding in weight loss, detoxifying the body, giving relief from indigestion, reduction of the risk of brain and heart condition, as well as cancer. Furthermore, this particular superfood is also beneficial in boosting eye health, maintaining the hormonal balance, and prevent various conditions. It is also rich in antioxidant and nutrients, which are beneficial in making the immunity stronger and maintain the cellular and bone health. if you want to know more about cauliflower, feel free to give this article.
Cauliflower: What is this?
Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable, which belongs to the Brassicaceae plant family that includes cabbage, kale, and broccoli. The name of it actually comes from caulis, a Latin word, which means cabbage that has a flower. Furthermore, the florets that’s on the head of the cauliflower, which is also popular as the curd are firmly clustered. It also consists of some immature buds, which is in connection to a certain central stalk. In order to protect the softness and flavor of the cauliflower, some keep it away from direct sunlight in order to prevent the chlorophyll pigment development and over maturity.
Furthermore, it is also considered to be one of the most familiar vegetables eaten for the winter season. These amazingly beautiful heads are actually teeming with important nutrients, hold lots of health-benefiting phytonutrients, just like vitamins, sulforaphane, and indole 3 carbinole, which help in preventing overweight, diabetes, as well as offer a protection against prostate, cervical, and ovarian cancers.
Just like the broccoli, cauliflower is also made up of florets, which start to evolve, yet halt at while in its own immature stage. This particular cool-season vegetable chooses fertile, sufficient moisture in the soil in order to flourish. Various cultivars actually exist other than the common snow-white cauliflower variety.
Though the floret head is in the early creamy white stage, they must have protection against the direct sunlight. The direct sunlight may turn them green and very unappealing. The fully-grown flowers must be harvested on time in order to avoid them being so mature. The over matured head may lose its compactness. Not just that, the surface may become discolored, grainy, and may no longer stay flavorful.
Types of Cauliflower
The cauliflower is available in four main groups, northern European annuals, northwest European biennial, Italian, and Asian, have more than a hundred varieties. Aside from the white variety, it also comes in some other colors, like the following:
- Orange: The orange cauliflower is very nutritious and has a great amount of vitamin A, in comparison to the white variety.
- Purple: There are anthocyanins and antioxidants in the purple variety, which provides the unique color to it.
- Green: The green cauliflower or the broccoflower may be available in the normal curd-shaped form and in spiky option or what they popularly call as Romanesco broccoli.
Nutritional Facts of Cauliflower
100 grams of cauliflower may contain the following essential nutrients:
| Principle | Amount | % Daily Value |
| Energy | 25 Kcal | 1% |
| Carbohydrates | 4.97 grams | 4% |
| Protein | 1.92 grams | 4% |
| Total Fat | 0.28 grams | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 0 milligrams | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.0 grams | 5% |
| Vitamins | ||
| Folates | 57 micrograms | 14% |
| Niacin | 0.507 milligrams | 3% |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.667 milligrams | 13% |
| Pyridoxine | 0.184 milligrams | 14% |
| Riboflavin | 0.060 milligrams | 4.5% |
| Thiamin | 0.050 milligrams | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 0 IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 48.2 milligrams | 80% |
| Vitamin E | 0.08 milligrams | 0.5% |
| Vitamin K | 15.5 micrograms | 13% |
| Electrolytes | ||
| Sodium | 30 milligrams | 2% |
| Potassium | 299 milligrams | 6% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 22 milligrams | 2% |
| Copper | 0.039 milligrams | 4.5% |
| Iron | 0.42 milligrams | 5% |
| Magnesium | 15 milligrams | 3.5% |
| Manganese | 0.155 milligrams | 7% |
| Zinc | 0.27 milligrams | 2.5% |
| Phyto-nutrients | ||
| Carotene-ß | 0 micrograms | — |
| Lutein-zeaxanthin | 1 micrograms | — |
Health Benefits of Cauliflower
Here are some of the most shocking health benefits of cauliflower:
- Helps in improving brain health. There are phosphorus and choline in the cauliflower, which is essential in repairing the cell membranes. This is beneficial for the effective functioning of the nervous system and the brain for the transmission of the nerve signals.
- Helps in preventing obesity. There are indoles in the cauliflower, which has anti-obesity properties. Studies show that the consumption of it is essential in the prevention of metabolic and inflammatory conditions in the body.
- Helps in boosting the immunity. There is a rich level of immune-boosting nutrients and antioxidants in the cauliflower. All of which are essential for the boosting of the immune system.
- Helps in maintaining the electrolyte balance. The potassium in the cauliflower is beneficial in the maintenance of the electrolyte balance in the body. This is essential for the nervous system’s functioning.
- Helps in reducing hypertension. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the cauliflower help in the reduction of the oxidative stress. Furthermore, it also helps in promoting the stimulation of good cholesterol and lower the levels of blood pressure.
- Helps in preventing cancer. Studies show that the indole 3 carbinol in the cauliflower possesses chemopreventive effects, which is essential in the halting of the growth of the cancer cells.
