Cauliflower and broccoli are some of the most affordable and healthy vegetables that have truly unique properties that have a positive effect on the body of both an adult and a young child.
It is noteworthy that this culture has never been wild. For the first time, cabbage was brought out by the inhabitants of a Mediterranean settlement before the advent of our era. Syria is considered the homeland of cauliflower, the useful properties of which are difficult to overestimate today, which is why some varieties of this fruit are called Syrian or Cypriot. By the way, in Cyprus this healthy vegetable is one of the ingredients of many delicious and nutritious dishes.
This plant has become so popular not only because of its unusual taste, but also because the healing properties of cauliflower today are of interest to a huge number of people. Consider the characteristics of this culture in more detail.
Chemical composition
Cauliflower (also called curly-haired) is a close relative of the white-headed beauty. This culture got its name because it grows with inflorescences.
The presence of vitamins and useful properties of cauliflower are explained by its rich chemical composition. In addition to useful components, it also contains a huge amount of minerals, amino acids and carbohydrates. In addition, cauliflower has a very low energy value. The calorie content of a healthy vegetable is only 25 kcal per 100 g of product.
In addition, it is worth paying attention to the fact that cauliflower contains the largest amount of vitamins. Also note that this vegetable is several times larger than lemon in the amount of ascorbic acid.
Moreover, a rare vitamin U is present in cauliflower . It is necessary for the human body to recognize harmful bacteria and substances in a timely manner. Thus, thanks to this vitamin, the protective functions of internal organs are significantly improved.
Additionally, cabbage contains vitamins of groups B, E, A, H, PP and K. If you use at least 50 g of this unique vegetable per day, you can make up for the daily requirement of all the necessary useful components.
Curly beauty enriches the body with fiber, organic acids, starch, proteins, carbohydrates, sugar, fatty acids and other components necessary for normal life.
If we talk about mineral components, then cabbage contains a large amount of selenium, zinc, copper, manganese and iron.
Cauliflower: properties and benefits for women
For the fair sex, this vegetable will be useful, as it improves the condition of hair and skin. In addition, cauliflower strengthens the nail plate. This is due to the high content of vitamin C, which is known to be a natural source of collagen.
In addition, this vegetable has a rejuvenating effect. Thanks to the beneficial properties of cauliflower, cell regeneration is performed. If you make a mask from a curly-haired beauty, you can get rid of unpleasant wrinkles and smooth your skin.
Useful properties for men
If we talk about representatives of the strong half of humanity, then cauliflower will also be useful to them, since it significantly improves performance. In addition, this vegetable helps to preserve male power longer and has a positive effect on the reproductive system.
Thanks to the beneficial properties of cauliflower, men successfully fight against baldness. This vegetable activates hair growth and makes the hair thicker.
According to scientists, those men who consume cauliflower daily are much less likely to suffer from prostate cancer.
What is useful for children?
For the formation of the digestive system and its proper functioning, the child needs a wide range of nutrients. Thanks to the protein contained in cauliflower, blood vessel walls and bone mass are strengthened. Since this vegetable contains a small amount of calories, it becomes an excellent prevention of obesity.
Due to its beneficial properties, cauliflower becomes an excellent product for feeding infants. This is because it prevents increased gas formation, and also does not cause allergic reactions. In addition, this vegetable has a pleasant taste, is easily digestible and increases the metabolic process in the baby's body.
Speaking about the beneficial properties and contraindications of cauliflower, it will be fair to note the disadvantages of this vegetable. Fortunately, there are not many of them.
Cauliflower Harm
It should be borne in mind that even the most harmless natural product, grown on its own, can have a negative effect on the body, if you use it in huge quantities for a long time. In addition, by including cauliflower in your diet, you run the risk of exacerbating some chronic diseases. For example, it can have a negative effect on gout, food allergies, acute pathologies of the intestinal tract. Also, this vegetable is not recommended for individual intolerance.
Slimming cabbage
Among the beneficial properties of broccoli and cauliflower there is a reduced calorie content of the product. Thus, we can conclude that the use of this vegetable will not be fraught with the appearance of extra centimeters. Moreover, today there are many options for a wide variety of diets, the main ingredient of which is cauliflower.
One of the options for such weight loss is that you need to eat about 1.5 kg of boiled cabbage per day. The course of such nutrition should not exceed 3 days. Thanks to this diet, you can not only reduce body weight, but also normalize the metabolism in the body, thereby improving digestibility.
Due to its properties, cauliflower helps the body clear itself of harmful substances. Such diets will be useful not only for those who want to lose weight, but also for the prevention of cancer.
Cauliflower during pregnancy
In the process of bearing a child, a woman desperately needs additional nutrients, vitamins and minerals. In this case, cabbage is not only possible, but also necessary. It contains a huge amount of vitamin C and other trace elements necessary for a growing fetus.
However, the expectant mother should be wary of this vegetable if she suffers from allergies or high acidity in the stomach. If a woman does not know if she has an allergic reaction specifically to cauliflower, then you can try to eat about 50 g of the vegetable and wait a day. If during this time the future woman in labor will not be bothered by unpleasant symptoms, then you can not worry and boldly increase the daily dose of this useful product.
If you have any chronic diseases, before you start taking cauliflower, you should definitely consult with a doctor who is observing the expectant mother.
Breastfeeding Cabbage
In this case, there is also no reason for concern. On the contrary, if a woman consumes this vegetable, then through breast milk the newborn baby will receive all the necessary trace elements and nutrients that will strengthen the digestive system and immunity of the growing child.
In addition, cauliflower will be useful during lactation. This vegetable improves liver function. However, in the first few weeks after the birth of the baby, it is better not to consume cabbage in large volumes, since it is possible that the baby has an individual intolerance to this natural product. After entering cauliflower in the mother’s diet, you need to carefully monitor the reaction of the newborn.
In order not to harm the baby and get as much nutrients from the vegetable as possible, it is best to use it in boiled, stewed or baked form 2-3 times a week.
With pancreatitis
Speaking about the benefits and harms of cauliflower, the medicinal properties of this vegetable should not be ignored. This vegetable is recommended for exacerbation or chronic course of this pathology.
To alleviate the condition of the patient, it is recommended to prepare mashed soups for him. However, you should not overdo it. If you use cauliflower daily, this can lead to increased secretion in the stomach.
In the chronic course of the disease, you can eat steamed cabbage or just boiled. Also, the vegetable can be stewed and baked with other vegetables. But fresh, fried or pickled cabbage is better to exclude from your diet.
With gastritis
With this pathology (high or low acidity), this vegetable is also allowed. Due to the rare vitamin U, metabolic processes are restored in the body, and the patient is relieved.
Also in cauliflower there are vitamins B2 and PP, which favorably affect the work of the gastrointestinal tract. For gastritis, it is recommended to cook this vegetable in a stew. If after this the patient has gas formation, then you can try boiled cabbage or cabbage casserole.
How to choose cauliflower
To get the whole range of useful components from a vegetable, you must carefully select it in the store. First of all, you need to pay attention to the presence of sluggish and dark leaves. This suggests that the cabbage has already begun to deteriorate, so it is not recommended to eat it.
A head of vegetable should be fairly heavy and dense. If the seller has removed all the top leaves, then this indicates that the cabbage has already begun to deteriorate. Fresh, bright and heavy vegetables will be stored in the refrigerator for about a week, after this period it is not worth eating it.