Food of the Week: Cauliflower
Did you know that along with its wealth of vitamins and minerals, cauliflower, like the other cruciferous vegetables, contains powerful sulfur compounds that have repeatedly been found to help prevent cancer? These include compounds that help the liver to neutralize potentially harmful cancer causing compounds and to suppress tumor cell growth and the movement of cancer to other parts of the body (metastasis).
A 7-year study in Australia followed 609 women newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer, a very aggressive form of cancer. It was found that including 5 servings a day of vegetables, particularly cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, had an especially beneficial effect on their survival rates. And since one cup of raw cauliflower contains only 40 calories, it’s a great low calorie addition to your Healthiest Way of Eating. Source: World’s Healthiest Food
How to Bring Out the Hidden Health Benefits from Cauliflower
The latest scientific studies show that cutting cauliflower florets into small pieces, such as quarters, breaks down cell walls and enhances the activation of an enzyme called myrosinase that slowly converts some of the plant nutrients into their active forms, which have been shown to contain health-promoting properties. So, to get the most health benefits from Cauliflower, let it sit for a minimum of 5 minutes, optimally 10 minutes, after cutting, before eating or cooking.
