Health Benefits of Cauliflower

Health Benefits of Cauliflower

An excellent source of vitamin C.

A good source of folate and potassium.

Low in calories and high in fiber.

An anticancer food.

Cauliflower is rich in vitamin C, folate and various other phytochemicals linked with good health. A cup of raw cauliflower florets has more than 50 percent of the Recommended Dietary Allowance ( RDA ) of vitamin C, 15 percent of the RDA for folate, and reasonable amounts of potassium and vitamin B6. It also has bioflavonoids, indoles and other chemicals that protect against cancer.

Filling, high in fiber, and low in calories ( 25 in a cup of florets ), this is an ideal snack food for weight watchers. Raw cauliflower has more folate ( 80 percent is lost in cooking).

To retain flavor and reduce nutrient loss, cook cauliflower rapidly by boiling in a minimum amount of water or steaming. Too much cooking turns cauliflower mushy and releases sulfurous compounds, resulting in an unpleasant odor and bitter taste. Boiling the vegetable in an open pot helps disperse these compounds. To avoid discoloring the cauliflower, don’t cook it in aluminum or iron pots.

When buying cauliflower, look for a head with firm, compact florets. If it is fresh, the leaves will be crisp and green, and the head, snowy white.

Source - Reader's Digest