7 Health Benefits Of Cauliflower

Cauliflower is from the same family of vegetables (cruciferous) like Broccoli and yields amazing health benefits like its cousin. In fact, the vegetable world is so diverse and amazing in benefits that many people are shifting to being vegan! It is also a very good trend actually given the sorry state of the animal farming industry. However, abandoning animal protein cold turkey is understandably difficult because you are conditioned to a particular kind of diet. Nevertheless, you can still find cauliflower wonderfully beneficial.

1. Keeps body inflammation in balance

Internal inflammation or reddening is often an immune system response to encountering an infective threat. However, over-response from the immune system can get the inflammation out of balance. Cauliflower provides a good supply of anti-inflammatory ingredients such as 13c or Indole 3 carbinols.

13 c is a compound that can act on the genetic level to repair damage caused by inflammation. The unbalanced inflammatory response can lead to cancer, so it must be kept in check. The cruciferous Cauliflower replenishes the body with vital nutrients and alleviates the damaging conditions to keep the system in balance. It is also good for heart health.

2. Cancer fighter

Studies show cauliflower to be a highly effective cancer-fighting vegetable. It is a very rich source of sulforaphane, which is a sulfur compound. Probably, it is because of the heavy presence of this compound that cauliflower sports a slightly turgid smell. Sulforaphane kills cancer stem cells, thereby destroying the tumor from its very root.

It doesn’t only contain this compound, but the vegetable is also a potent source of isothiocyanates and indoles that have been shown to inhibit the development of cancerous cells in laboratory conditions. Although chemotherapy and surgery are still the standard treatments for cancer, yet the world is waking up to amazing natural medicines such as cauliflower and cannabis.

3. Essential vitamin and minerals supply

The vegetable delivers a heavy supply of minerals and vitamins to the body. It is particularly high in vitamin C, which is crucial for strengthening the immune system. One standard cauliflower serving consists of 77% of vitamin C Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA).

In addition, the vegetable is an excellent source of vitamin k, fiber, vitamin B6, folate, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid. It is a heavy storehouse of minerals such as manganese, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Cauliflower can be cooked in a traditional Bengali style with spices such as turmeric and red pepper. These spices add an extra boost to your immune system. They are also fat-burners!

4. Total detoxification support

Cauliflower is a great vegetable for detoxifying the body and starting a brand new phase of your life. In addition, the glucosinolates in it activate the detoxification enzymes. Besides encouraging the body to detoxify by triggering its enzymes, cauliflower also directly helps in both phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification.

The antioxidants in it are vital for phase 1. The sulfur compounds facilitate the phase 2 process. Cauliflower can be eaten in spicy dishes, boiled, fried, or as a broth. It offers an excellent wholesome meal and helps to relieve constipation. Many detox diets imperatively include cauliflower recipes in the regimen. At one hand it cleanses the body, and, on the other hand, it strengthens it with nutrition.

5. Very good for skin health

Cauliflower has significant anti-aging benefits. It is super high in phytonutrients and antioxidants. The Cruciferous vegetable is totally packed with a bevy of amazing micronutrients such as cinnamic acid, rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, beta-carotene, and vitamin C.

The free radicals are essential elements of the Reactive Oxygen Species or ROS. The antioxidants nullify the unbalanced ions generated by incomplete oxidation in cells. Everyone has free radicals to some extent in their bloodstream. Largely unmanageable factors such as pollution and chronic stress also lead to the production of free radicals. The ROS causes organ and tissue damage which is visible on the skin as signs of stress.

6. Benefits the brain

Among the arsenal of positive weapons in the repository of cauliflower, you can also find the super-compound choline. It is essentially a B vitamin, famously known for its beneficial role in brain development. Studies have shown that a cauliflower rich diet in pregnancy resulted at in utero development of the brain.

The effect of this vitamin improves cognitive function and enhances memory potential. It also supports learning and keeps the brain healthy even for the aged. In the childhood, cauliflower protects the brain from toxicity. Providing your child with a cauliflower diet in childhood also ensures that he has good brain functions in the later phase of life.

7. Protection against infections

Cauliflower packs in a healthy protection against viral infections. It consists of Di-Indolyl-Methane (DIM) which is a lipid soluble compound and is a natural antivirus. It is also an immune-modulator compound and an antibacterial agent. DIM is a compound that is under active research in medical science for its functions against the Human Papilloma Virus or HPV.

This compound actually acts by synthesizing and activating the Interferon-Gamma receptors in the cells. The medical community is also investigating the potency of the compound in clinical trials for cervical dysplasia. Among other benefits, it is a low-calorie food (26 cal/100 g), thereby presenting a calming effect for the body. It is good for weight loss, but you should be careful about a crash diet.