7 Reasons to Eat More Cauliflower

When was the last time you thought about cauliflower? You may currently not think very much about this cruciferous vegetable that is closely related to broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale and cabbage. You may only think it looks like a brain and is a bit smelly when cooked. But when we get done telling you how good this veggie is for your health, you’ll count it as one of your favorite foods in the world.

If you don’t eat much cauliflower, here are 7 reasons why you’ll want to start eating more:

1. Cauliflower Boost Your Immune System

Cauliflower is loaded with important vitamin C, which means it’s great at supporting our immune systems. Did you know that a single cup of cooked cauliflower provides 73% of the daily recommended value of this powerful antioxidant?

Not only can vitamin C keep those colds and flu at bay, it also reduces chronic inflammation and encourages healthy skin.

2. Provides Those Essential B-Vitamins

B-vitamins are some of the most important nutrients we need to be healthy. And that’s because every system in our body requires different B-vitamins to function optimally. They do everything from help our bodies convert food into fuel, allowing us to have energy all day, to promoting healthy skin and preventing memory loss.

As we get older, it’s important to find ways to keep our brains healthier to avoid those “senior moments.” Eat more cauliflower!

3. It’s an Excellent Source of Vitamin K

Vitamin K is an umbrella terms used to describe a group of chemically-related fat-soluble compounds known as naphthoquinones. This group includes vitamins K, K1, K2, and K3.

Vitamin K is important because it is necessary so our bodies can respond properly to injuries. Without Vitamin K, our blood can’t clot.

In addition to regulating normal blood clotting, Vitamin K assists the transportation of calcium throughout the body, making sure it gets into our bones and teeth instead of just hanging out in our blood. This not only prevents bone fractures and tooth loss but also prevents the calcification of arteries and other soft tissue.

4. Don’t Like Eating Fish – Eat Cauliflower Instead!

We talk a lot on this blog about the importance of getting enough essential omega-3 fatty acids into your diet. One food source high in omega-3s is cold water fatty fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel. But let’s face it, there are plenty of people who just don’t like the taste – or smell – of fish.

Well rejoice, because cauliflower contains a decent amount of the stuff. Now, you’re not going to get the high concentrations as you would from eating fish, but that’s okay because you can eat cauliflower while supplementing with DuOmega 3&7. Click Here for more info.

5. Load Up on Important Minerals

There are certain veggies that just give you more bang for your buck, and cauliflower is one of them. It contains a wealth of minerals including potassium, phosphorus, manganese and magnesium. Beyond that, cauliflower also happens to be an excellent source of fiber, which is not only essential for digestive health but cardiovascular health as well.

6. It Has Additional Antioxidants

We already mentioned cauliflower is an excellent source of the powerful antioxidant vitamin C, but it’s also rich in beta-carotene, cinnamic acid, ferulic acid, and quercetin. All of these antioxidants work together to improve your health by neutralizing damaging free radicals throughout your body and helping to lower inflammation.

7. Glucosinolates – Yep, It’s Got Those, Too

Glucosinates – not the easiest word to say, but saying it is not important, making sure you get enough of them into your diet is.

The Glucosinates in cauliflower offer numerous health benefits. Research has shown that glucosinates reduce your risk of developing multiple types of cancer.

These sulfur compounds have also been associated with a sizeable body of research to improvements in immune system health, digestive health, cardiovascular health, support of the body’s detoxification systems, and reducing inflammation. Can you think of any better reasons to start eating more cauliflower?