7 Health Benefits Of Eating Cauliflowers

Cauliflower is an edible vegetable that belongs to the genus Brassica of the Brassicaceae family and is cultivated in many regions around the world. It is available in many varieties, but the four major groups are- Italian, North European Annuals, Northwest Europen Biennial, and Asian.

It provides several health and beauty benefits due to the presence of essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, polyphenols, and dietary fibers, etc.

# Protection Against Various Cancers

Antioxidants like vitamin C and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids, etc in cauliflower protects our cells and tissues from free radical damage, and thus minimizes the risk of several cancers like colon cancer, intestinal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer, etc.

Free radicals are the unstabilized ions that stabilize by stealing electrons from neighboring molecules and doing so causes oxidative damage to them.Sulforaphane present in the cauliflower inhibits the growth of cancer cells, and thus protects against cancer. As per researchers, taking cauliflower along with curcumin (a powerful antioxidantal compound in turmeric) significantly reduces the risk of prostate cancer.

# Maintains Cholesterol Level

Dietary fibers in cauliflower minimize LDL cholesterol in the body, and thus reduces the risk of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a condition that leads to hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to the accumulation of plaque and fat deposits within the arterial walls and is a leading cause of several cardiovascular problems like heart attack, heart stroke, and coronary artery disease, etc.

# Regulates High Blood Pressure

Cauliflower contains potassium, a natural vasodilator that relaxes our blood vessels, improves blood circulation, and thus provides relief from hypertension or high blood pressure.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is the silent killer that affects millions of people around the world and increases the risk of several cardiovascular and other health problems like severe headaches, nosebleed, fatigue, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, difficulty in breathing, blood in urine, heart attack and heart stroke, etc.Sulforaphane in cauliflower also contributes to blood pressure regulation.

# Keeps Our Cardiovascular System Healthy

Cauliflower improves our cardiovascular health.Vitamin C and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids, etc in cauliflower protect our cardiovascular system from free radical damage.Dietary fibers in it minimize LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis which is a leading cause of several cardiovascular problems.

Cauliflower also contains potassium that regulates high blood pressure and minimizes the risk of several cardiovascular and other health problems.Sulforaphane in cauliflower improves kidney functions, regulates blood pressure, and further improves our cardiovascular health.Other nutrients like iron, magnesium, and zinc, etc in cauliflower also play a significant role in strengthening our cardiovascular system.

# Provides Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

Anti-inflammatory compounds like vitamin C and Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) etc present in the cauliflower provide relief from pain and inflammation caused by inflammatory problems like arthritis, rheumatism, rheumatoid, gouts, asthma, and bronchial asthma.

# Improves Neurological Health

Cauliflower improves our neurological health because of its rich nutritious profile.Vitamin C and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids, etc in cauliflower protects our brain cells or the neurons from free radical damage, and thus minimizes the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, amnesia, and dementia, etc.

Vitamin B4 (Choline) in cauliflower improves brain activity and keeps it healthy.Other nutrients like zinc, iron, potassium, magnesium and B vitamins, etc in the cauliflower also improves our neurological health as they provide several cognitive benefits like a sharper memory, improved concentration, enhanced focus, reduced mental confusion, etc.

# Aids With Detoxification

The detoxifying properties of the dietary fibers in cauliflower eliminates toxins, pollutants, impurities, and other unwanted substances from our body, and prevents them from causing damage to our health.

Antioxidants like vitamin C, sulfur compounds like sulforaphane, and abundance of water ( around 92 percent) in cauliflower also helps with the detoxification process.