The health benefits and harms of cauliflower

Cauliflower is popularly known as "white cottage cheese." Indeed, its florets are somewhat reminiscent of this dairy product. It's not as popular in Russia as white cabbage, which is a shame, as it's very healthy. Nutritionists recommend it for both men and women, and it's also recommended for infants.

Cabbage can be used for more than just cooking. It's equally popular in folk medicine and cosmetology.

Composition of cabbage

Cauliflower, thanks to its rich nutritional composition, is considered one of the healthiest vegetables. It is rich in vitamins PP, folate, choline, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iodine, chlorine, and more. It contains 2.5 times more vitamin C than white cabbage, and twice as much iron as green peas and leafy greens.

Vitamin U is worth noting. It's quite rare in foods, but it's crucial for the body. It promotes normal gastrointestinal function, cleanses the liver, and promotes liver cell regeneration, and, most importantly, heals mucosal ulcers.

Cauliflower can replace animal proteins, which is crucial for dieters and weight-loss enthusiasts. It's also incredibly filling, so you won't feel hungry for long even after a small serving.

Cauliflower is a popular vegetable in America. Scientists there have proven for several years that regular consumption strengthens the walls of veins and blood vessels and helps remove cholesterol from the blood.

Despite its rich nutritional composition, cauliflower is a low-calorie food. Per 10 grams of product:

• fresh and steamed contain 30 kcal;
• boiled 29 kcal;
• fried 120 kcal;
• cooked in batter 78 kcal;
• baked with egg and sour cream 64 kcal.

There are many varieties of cauliflower. Each country cultivates those most suited to its conditions, but they are all similar in appearance and flavor. The differences are mostly in size and shape. Occasionally, some truly unique specimens can be found. For example, the Purple Cauliflower. Its florets range in color from light blue to deep purple. Cauliflower can also have red, green, or yellow centers. These external differences don't significantly affect the taste or aroma, but dishes with these varieties can be quite unique.

Health benefits of cabbage

The fact that cauliflower is one of the first foods introduced to babies speaks to its enormous health benefits. It's easily digestible, helping to overcome numerous problems and prevent them from developing in the future. This vegetable restores and regulates the digestive system, helping to prevent gastritis and ulcers. It helps prevent heart disease and supports heart function by providing the body with sufficient potassium.

For women

Cauliflower contains a substance that prevents the development of breast cancer, halts tumor growth, and destroys diseased cells. This vegetable is also beneficial for women's health. Regular inflammation, menstrual cramps, painful PMS, and menopause—cabbage can help combat all of these.

Don't just think of cabbage as a treatment for your body. Cabbage regulates hormonal balance in women, slows down the aging process, and promotes long-lasting beauty. For this purpose, it can be consumed as a food item or used in masks and other cosmetics.

For pregnant and lactating women

At this crucial time in a woman's life, this food is even more important. Cauliflower provides sufficient folate and vitamin B, essential for fetal development and maternal health. Regular consumption of cauliflower can help prevent birth defects.

It's especially important for pregnant women living in industrial cities. Cabbage flushes out waste from the body, ensuring the health of both mother and baby.

This vegetable helps breastfeeding women cope with the most common problems, such as constipation and rapid weight gain. It also provides iron to the milk, which is very beneficial for the newborn.

For weight loss

It's a favorite among those trying to lose weight. Indeed, delicious, filling, yet low-calorie dishes can help you shed extra pounds quite quickly, but the vegetable's potential is far greater. Cauliflower helps prevent obesity in the internal organs.

Diet or exercise can't solve this problem. But cabbage effectively dissolves fat cells and flushes them out of the body with fluid.

Furthermore, digesting cabbage requires twice as much energy as any other fruit or vegetable, meaning you'll lose weight right before your eyes. Even without dieting, you can noticeably improve your figure by eating just 100 grams of cabbage a day.

For men

In addition to its overall positive effects on the body, cauliflower helps men prevent prostate cancer and maintain and restore male health.

Men rarely pay attention to their health, and when they feel unwell, they try to hide it as long as possible to avoid appearing weak. As a result, problems with the heart, veins, blood vessels, blood pressure, and other issues affect every other man after age 45. This vegetable can help both prevent and treat these problems. Furthermore, anyone who regularly eats cauliflower experiences a better mood, increased productivity, and sound sleep.

For children

Cauliflower's delicate texture makes it easy for babies to digest. It's used as a complementary food both on its own and in combination with other ingredients. It's especially recommended with "heavy" foods when babies begin to sample meat. Cauliflower rarely causes allergies, but it's often rejected by children due to its bland taste.

For older children, "white cottage cheese" should be considered a source of nutrients and vitamins. It will help develop a healthy skeleton and support the functioning of internal organs. It's crucial to regularly give it to schoolchildren to help them be more attentive, improve their memory, and reduce fatigue.

For the elderly

Improving memory and attention is also important for older adults. But this vegetable also helps prevent constipation, a common problem during this period, cleanse blood vessels, and normalize heart function.

Energy, a good mood, and a minimum of health problems – that’s what awaits cauliflower lovers.

Contraindications

Those suffering from ulcers, colic, and hyperacidity should only introduce cauliflower into their diet with a doctor's permission. Uncontrolled consumption can lead to a deterioration in health, especially if consumed during a flare-up.

People who have had abdominal or chest surgery should avoid this vegetable. It can cause gas and severe pain.

Allergy sufferers should also exercise caution. The vegetable itself is not an allergen, but it can increase the allergen's effects.

Cabbage is contraindicated for gout sufferers. It can contribute to the concentration of uric acid and exacerbate the condition.

Medicinal properties

Many health problems can be solved with the help of cauliflower:

1. For hemorrhoids, separate the cabbage into florets, salt them, and place them in a jar. A brine will form in 2-3 days. Drink 100 ml of this twice daily, half an hour before meals. Continue drinking until the bumps disappear.
2. For bleeding gums, weak and diseased teeth, mix the brine with water and rinse your mouth up to 6 times a day.
3. To heal wounds and even severe burns, grind the leaves and mix with an egg until it forms a paste. Apply a thick layer and secure it carefully with a bandage.
4. Freshly squeezed juice can help with constipation and appetite problems. Dilute it half and half with water and drink 100 ml an hour before meals.
5. For abscesses and boils, puree the inflorescences and leaves. Apply the paste to the affected area for 3-5 hours, or preferably overnight. The mixture will draw out the pus. Remove it and disinfect the wound.
6. After a serious illness, and especially after the flu and colds, drink 50 ml of a drink three times a day, made from 100 grams of cabbage juice, 100 grams of carrot juice, 3 tablespoons of honey, and a glass of milk. It's best to warm it up before drinking.

For beauty

There are many recipes for making homemade cosmetics. Here are just a few:

• To moisturize your skin, puree a third of a medium head of cabbage and a cucumber. Add a spoonful of honey and olive oil. Apply to your skin (face, neck, and hands) for half an hour, then rinse with cool water.
• To nourish the skin, mix 4 tablespoons of cabbage puree with a spoonful of sour cream and an egg. Apply for 15 minutes, rinse, and wipe the skin with green tea or parsley infusion.
• To restore your skin, mix equal parts cabbage puree and heavy cream. Apply for 20 minutes, wipe your face with a paper towel, and apply natural honey.
• Freshly squeezed juice will help get rid of split ends. Apply it to the ends of your hair after every wash;
• If you rinse your hair with juice once every 3-4 days, it will become stronger, healthier and shinier.

What to cook with cabbage

Cauliflower is a real find for cooks. It can be used in a variety of dishes, and its nutritional properties remain intact, if not slightly diminished. Before you begin cooking, keep the following tips in mind:

• If you add a spoonful of freshly squeezed lemon juice to the water, the inflorescences will remain white;
• It is not recommended to use iron or aluminum cookware to avoid causing chemical reactions;
• Don't discard the broth after cooking cauliflower. Even if you don't need it for cooking, you can drink it, use it to rinse your hair, or use it to water your plants.

The most beneficial properties are preserved in cabbage that is steamed or boiled in a minimal amount of water.

Fried in batter or breadcrumbs

This is one of the most common cooking methods. Separate the cabbage into florets, plunge them into boiling water for 3 minutes, and let them cool. Make a moderately thick batter using eggs, sour cream, mayonnaise or cream, salt, and spices. Dip the cabbage in the batter and fry on both sides in a well-heated frying pan. The result is very similar to chicken or fish fillet, especially if you choose the right seasonings.

You can make a more savory dish. After blanching, dip the cabbage in beaten egg and then coat it in a mixture of breadcrumbs, salt, and spices. The result is a deliciously flavorful and deliciously crispy crust.

With an egg in a frying pan

A great option for a complete dinner or lunch. Blanch the cauliflower and let it cool. Fry the onion in a frying pan, add the chopped cauliflower, season with salt and spices, cover, and simmer for 3-5 minutes. Beat the egg, add it to the pan, and mix with all the remaining ingredients. Sprinkle with fresh herbs, cover, and turn off the heat. Serve after 10 minutes. It's very filling and the aroma is incredible.

Salad

Boil the cabbage in salted water until tender. Cool. Tear into small pieces, season with salt, and sprinkle with lemon juice. Cut an egg (about the same amount as the cabbage) into wedges and add to the cabbage. Dress the salad with yogurt or mayonnaise and sprinkle with fresh herbs.

Chicken fillet casserole

Separate the cabbage into florets, pour boiling water over them, and let cool completely. Cut approximately the same amount of fillet into pieces, season with salt and pepper. Place the cabbage in a baking dish, then top with the fillet. Pour the beaten egg over everything, covering completely. Bake in a preheated oven until golden brown, about 35 minutes.

How to choose and store

To ensure that cauliflower truly brings only benefits, you need to choose and store it correctly.

When purchasing, please follow these guidelines:

• the head of cabbage should be dense and heavy;
• the green leaves should fit tightly around the head of cabbage and not stick out;
• The leaves are a must! Otherwise, there's a chance they've turned yellow and the sellers simply removed them.
• Regardless of the color of the head of cabbage, brown spots or dots are unacceptable;
• There should be no gaps between the heads. They should fit very tightly together.

Cabbage has a short shelf life. Its nutrients remain for no more than 10 days after harvesting. Therefore, whole cabbage can be stored at home for no more than a week. It should be stored in the refrigerator upside down, without a bag or plastic wrap. Avoid keeping foods with strong odors nearby.

Cauliflower is easy to find in winter, but it's best to buy it frozen or make your own to preserve more of its health benefits.

Reviews

Elena, 32 years old

I hadn't really bought cauliflower before; I just didn't know what to do with it. A colleague brought some fried in batter to try at work, and I really liked it. I made it at home, too, but with chicken seasoning. The kids didn't even realize it wasn't chicken. Although the youngest kept asking, "Is it fish or meat?" It's also incredibly affordable. One head is enough for dinner.

Svetlana, 25 years old

I love cauliflower. I use the florets for cooking, and I make a toner from the leaves. Just chop them very finely, fill a jar or bottle to the top, and fill with vodka. After about a week, the leaves will settle. Then strain them through cheesecloth and wipe your face with the toner every evening after removing your makeup. The results will be noticeable almost immediately. Definitely try it.

Vera Anatolyevna, 65 years old

I've been preserving cauliflower for the winter for many years now. Place a couple of garlic cloves, a horseradish leaf, and a sprig of dill in the bottom of a liter jar. Top with the cauliflower florets. Pour boiling water over the jar twice, and on the third time, add a spoonful of sugar, 2/3 teaspoon of salt, 30 ml of vinegar to each jar, pour in boiling water, and seal. You can also add carrot rings, but then you'll need to sterilize the jars for at least 20 minutes before sealing.

In England, they say there's no flower more beautiful than cauliflower. It turns out this vegetable isn't just visually appealing. It's a true treasure that you just need to learn how to properly utilize for your health and beauty.