Ten Reasons to Eat Cauliflower More Often
Do you like cauliflower or are you among those who dislike it? You must know it has many of the B-complex vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, and Folic acid) and it’s also rich in vitamins C, K, and E if you’re part of the second group.
It also has many important minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and manganese. In addition, the amount of fat it contains is minimal and its contribution of protein, fiber, and omega 3 is significant.
As you can see, eating cauliflower regularly can help keep you healthy and strong.
In addition, consult the BEDCA database to learn more about the properties of cauliflower
Ten reasons to eat cauliflower
1. It improves cardiovascular health
The vitamin K that we get from cauliflower has anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, it increases blood flow and reduces fats. You may not know it but the fats in blood can cause cardiovascular problems like atherosclerosis.
2. Stomach disorders disappear when you eat cauliflower
Like we mentioned before, cauliflower is rich in dietary fiber. This is very helpful with digestion. Fiber also encourages the elimination of toxins in the body. Also, the sulforaphane that it has protects your stomach lining. This makes your stomach more resistant.
Add its kaempferol content to it, which has anti-inflammatory power, and you’ll see how eating cauliflower is an excellent way to reduce the risk of stomach ulcers and colon cancer. At least according to an article published in the journal Molecules.
3. It contributes to a decrease in cancer
The sulforaphane and isothiocyanates in cauliflower help lower the risk for cancer according to a study published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. This would make it easier to deal with cancer.
Even if cancer isn’t a part of your life, but you’re worried about it, you should know it can help lower the risk for certain ones such as:
- Lung cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Breast cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Uterine cancer
4. Macular degeneration
Due to its content of vitamin C and antioxidants, cauliflower can reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration and can help prevent blindness in some cases.
Sulforaphane protects against the damage caused by oxidative stress. Thus, it helps prevent degeneration and eye diseases such as cataracts.
Check out these Five Natural Remedies to Stop Macular Degeneration
5. Damage caused by UV radiation
Sulforaphane in cauliflower can also protect your skin from damage caused by UV rays. It safeguards your body from problems like:
- Cellular damage
- Inflammation
- Skin cancer caused by UV radiation
- Reddening of the skin due to increased blood flow after a sunburn
It’s important that you aren’t over-exposed to the sun. Eating this vegetable isn’t enough. Remember to put sunscreen on and don’t sunbathe for too long.
6. Neurodegenerative disorders decrease when you eat cauliflower
Among other reasons to eat cauliflower we should mention the protection it may offer against neurodegenerative disorders. The sulforaphane activates detoxifying enzymes. It also helps your brain to heal neural lesions caused by oxidative stress or inflammation.
This means that diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s will be less likely to affect you.
7. Cauliflower is great against hypertension and high cholesterol levels
You can maintain healthy arteries by eating cauliflower thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Also, the omega 3 fatty acid and fiber in cauliflower help to reduce your levels of bad cholesterol (LDL). This is very good if you are fighting cardiac issues. It also helps if you want to avoid heart issues.
See also: Learn How To Make Cauliflower Gratin with Bechamel Sauce
8. Promotes electrolyte balance
Eating cauliflower helps balance the body’s electrolytes. Therefore, the nervous system performs the transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contractions correctly.
Moreover, you’ve likely adopted the habit of consuming large amounts of energy drinks if you do a lot of sports. This is because many people do so to get more electrolytes. However, these drinks also contain sugars you don’t need. Thus, a good alternative is to include more cauliflower in your diet.
9. Eat cauliflower because it also feeds the brain
The phosphorus in cauliflower helps repair cell membranes. Thus, these are essential for the brain and nervous system to function properly. In turn, potassium and vitamin B6 support brain and neurotransmitter health. This is because it’s important for the brain to be alert and work as it should.
10. Diabetes
Cauliflower can help reduce the risk for diabetes thanks to the vitamin C and potassium content it has. This is because these two things regulate the glucose in your blood and your metabolism.
When your potassium levels are low, your glucose levels can rise. This can be an important threat if you have diabetes. Because of this, it’s very important to eat enough foods that have high levels of potassium.
Eating cauliflower regularly in moderation is healthy
Cauliflower is full of essential micronutrients that can improve and guarantee your health. Don’t forget this vegetable doesn’t possess magical properties. Thus, you have to complement it with a well-balanced diet to take advantage of its properties.
Finally, exercise regularly to further improve your health and help prevent diseases in the medium and long term.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Imran M., Salehi B., Sharifi Rad J., Aslam Gondal T., et al., Kaempferol: a key emphasis to its anticancer potential. Molecules, 2019. 24 (12): 2277.
- Abbaoui B., Lucas CR., Riedl KM., Clinton SK., Mortazavi A., Cruciferous vegetables, isothiocyanates, and bladder cancer prevention. Mol Nutr Food Res, 2018.