Cauliflower is a truly unique vegetable. The fact is that not her fruit is used for cooking. Inflorescences of this amazing cabbage are consumed.
Most people are familiar with the white look of this vegetable. However, it is also green, and yellow, and purple. About how great is the health benefit of cauliflower, Avicenna himself wrote. However, today we most often use this product in cooking, forgetting about its excellent properties, which can be applied not only in medicine but also in cosmetology.
The use of cauliflower for a woman’s body is so great that this vegetable familiar to us can become an invaluable assistant for all ladies. The main thing is to know about its properties and apply them correctly.
A bit of history
Until now, no one can precisely answer the question “Where did cauliflower come from?” According to some historians, Cyprus is its homeland, while others believe that China. Nevertheless, this vegetable has long been called Syrian. Most likely, it was in this country that cauliflower was also cultivated from ordinary leaf. But, according to the generally accepted opinion, the homeland of this amazing vegetable is the Mediterranean. In the 12th century this type of cabbage was introduced by Arabs to Spain. Only in the 14th century the vegetable began to spread throughout Europe.
Amazing cabbage “reached” only in the late 17th century. Moreover, the dishes from it were initially considered delicious, because because of the high cost they were available to a few.
To date, almost 50 varieties of this amazing vegetable are grown in our country, but its cultivation in Europe, Japan and China is more popular.
Structure
The benefits of cauliflower for the body are manifested thanks to those active substances that are present in it. Each of them has its own effect on the human body, and together they have a very powerful positive effect on it.
So, cauliflower boasts an almost complete set of vitamins, but there are especially many A and C, K, H, B9, as well as choline. All these elements are able to heal and rejuvenate various organs and tissues of the human body.
In addition, cauliflower contains a lot of iron, potassium and calcium. All of them help the smooth implementation of metabolic processes. Rich in vegetable and pectin, which cleanses the body and lowers cholesterol.
The use of cauliflower allows you to supply each cell with the necessary organic acids for it. These substances accelerate the regeneration processes and rejuvenate the entire body.
Cauliflower contains pantothenic and folic acids, phosphorus, manganese and omega-3 fatty acids. Found in its composition are some other compounds important for human health that are not found in other vegetables.
Cauliflower is richer than white cabbage in terms of protein content (1.5-2 times). In this case, ascorbic acid in its composition is more than 2-3 times.
How useful is cauliflower for a woman's body? Indole 3-carbinol is present in this vegetable. This element copes well with the prevention of cancer in women, and is also involved in the metabolism of estrogen.
A large amount of antioxidants and vitamins also helps prevent cancer. These elements protect every cell of the body from the negative effects of free radicals and ultraviolet radiation. This reduces the risk of oncology.
To preserve such a rich chemical composition, it is important to know how best to cook cauliflower so as not to lose its useful properties during heat treatment. And using simple tips, a vegetable can be used not only in the kitchen, but also as a medicine and cosmetic.
Benefit
Cauliflower is recommended for diseases of the duodenum and stomach. The dietary fibers of this vegetable perfectly cleanse the digestive tract. And the beneficial substances contained in it, such as, for example, glucatrophin, can protect against the development of gastritis and ulcers. In addition, amazing cabbage allows you to normalize the digestion of those people who suffer from low acidity of the stomach. The vegetable contains a lot of fiber. It helps to cleanse the intestines and restore its microflora.
In addition, regular use of medicinal cabbage reduces the level of bad cholesterol in the blood. This vegetable is irreplaceable in the diet of patients suffering from pathologies of blood vessels and the heart. Thanks to allicin in its composition, the risk of developing heart attacks and strokes is significantly reduced. Potassium, which is also a lot in this product, will improve the work of the heart muscle and normalize the pressure.
Eating cauliflower is also recommended for those who suffer from arthrosis and arthritis. Fatty acids and vitamin K contained in vegetables help get rid of these ailments.
How useful is cauliflower for women? The use of this vegetable will allow beautiful ladies to get rid of unnecessary kilograms in order to give harmony to their body without any efforts. In addition, due to the record amount of vitamin C contained in this product, its inclusion in the daily diet perfectly supports the immune system and has a beneficial effect on the skin, preserving its youth. This process becomes possible due to the enhanced production of collagen, the synthesis of which is largely activated by ascorbic acid.
How useful is cauliflower for women? The inclusion of this vegetable in the daily diet significantly reduces the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
Awaiting baby
Cauliflower is recommended for women during pregnancy. The vegetable contains folic acid, which will allow the fetus to develop normally, blocking the path in the nascent organism to various pathologies.
A future mom who uses this cabbage will be protected from gaining excess weight, which often accompanies a woman in such a delicate condition. This is prevented by tartronic acid, which is part of this vegetable.
The use of cauliflower for women who are expecting a baby is also enclosed in the calcium available in its composition. This trace element allows you to save the future mother's hair, teeth and bones. In addition, due to calcium, the skeletal system of the fetus develops normally.
How useful is cauliflower for a woman’s body during pregnancy yet? It contains vitamin K, which, while in the body, significantly reduces the likelihood of uterine bleeding, and together with vitamin B has a restorative effect. Valuable phytoncides of cauliflower are a wonderful shield for various infections. But coenzyme Q10, which is also in the product, helps a woman avoid stretch marks, which often appear during childbirth.
The use of vegetables by a pregnant woman
Those who before this period included healing cabbage in their daily diet do not need to limit the amount of this vegetable. Of course, it is difficult to eat more than 200-300 grams of this dietary product at a time. After all, it perfectly saturates, and even with a small portion, it allows you to maintain a feeling of satiety for a long time.
However, it also happens that the expectant mother was previously not familiar with such dishes. In this case, the woman will need to carefully enter the cabbage in her diet. Despite the hypoallergenicity of this vegetable, there may be its individual intolerance. That is why the future mother needs to start using it with small portions (50 g). If after the inclusion of this type of cabbage in your diet does not appear rash or heartburn, stool disorders, flatulence or other digestive system disorders, then you can use the product in larger quantities.
In what form can a vegetable be eaten? It can be steamed or boiled, fried or baked. Raw cauliflower may also be included. The benefit of the vegetable in any case will be equivalent. It is only necessary to limit the intake of fried foods. After all, they overload the pancreas and liver. Do not use this vegetable marinated or salted.
Nursing mothers
How useful is cauliflower for women? It will be a great addition to the diet during breastfeeding. At the same time, you should not compare it with a white-skinned relative. Cauliflower will not provoke bloating and flatulence. In addition, its use will prevent a number of diseases, the prevention of which during breastfeeding is impossible with the use of drugs.
What is the use of cauliflower for women at this time? The substances that are in its composition will not allow the development of gastritis, acute forms of ulcers, as well as problems with the ovaries, colon and urinary bladder.
Very often, young mothers are not without reason afraid of a commonplace ARVI or flu. And healing cabbage will help them in this. It reduces the risk of penetration of pathogenic microbes into the body, as it neutralizes them.
Necessary nursing mothers and such properties of cabbage such as restoration of intestinal microflora. A useful vegetable has a similar effect on the body due to the fact that bacteria that activate digestion perfectly develop in its juice. When this product is included in the diet, the mother's body begins to work like a clock. And the well-being of the child largely depends on this.
What else is useful for cauliflower during breastfeeding? As you know, young mothers are very susceptible to stress. They are provoked by sleepless nights, a baby requiring constant care, as well as a lack of personal freedom with the need to constantly be in the four walls of a house or apartment. These, as well as some other factors, adversely affect the state of the nervous system. Cauliflower will help the woman in this case. It contains potassium, which allows the body to resist stress. For this, it is enough for mom to eat 150 g of vegetable per day.
However, when eating it, you will need to follow certain rules, namely:
- after childbirth, it should take three to four weeks to start gradually introducing soup cooked from cauliflower into the menu of a nursing mother;
- closely monitor the well-being of the child after the first sample of cauliflower dishes, and if allergies or colic are found, immediately abandon them, repeating the attempt to introduce them after a month;
- comply with the measure, since an excess of the product can lead to bloating;
- carefully select cabbage and be sure to wash it before cooking.
The use of vegetables during breastfeeding
Due to the fact that cauliflower has wonderful properties for the body, the benefits of its inclusion in the diet of a woman after childbirth are great. During breast-feeding, mothers are allowed to eat baked, boiled and stewed vegetables.
When cooking, you can add a little vegetable oil, salt, and low-fat sour cream to them. For a variety of menus, this type of cabbage is added to vegetable soup or to meat broth. But this is far from all product use cases. Cabbage can be stewed with various vegetables, including potatoes, and also added to the omelet. Beef, chicken or turkey, i.e. lean meat, is added to baked dishes and stews.
It should be borne in mind that baked, stewed or boiled cauliflower will benefit a woman more than raw. After all, in fresh form, the product will be more difficult to absorb by the body, which will increase the risk of colic, as well as other problems with the digestive system.
Why baked, stewed or boiled cauliflower is of great benefit? The fact is that during heat treatment this product becomes lighter and softer, while retaining all the elements that beneficially affect the health of the body.
For a slim figure
The problem of extra pounds worries many women. But the issue of a slender figure becomes especially relevant after the appearance of a beloved and long-awaited child. After all, it is with him that overweight comes to a woman.
Cauliflower will come to the rescue here. Nutritionists recommend it as an excellent fat burner that can suppress appetite. In addition, a unique effect to achieve this goal will have a unique tartronic acid, which is also part of the vegetable.
Due to its excellent properties, cauliflower will produce the following:
- reduce the desire to eat and eat while more than necessary;
- prolong the feeling of fullness;
- will strengthen the processes that burn fat, and will not allow a new one to appear in its place.
Cosmetic application
Every woman knows that almost any fruit or vegetable can be used for home resuscitation of the skin. Cauliflower is no exception. Effective face masks are made from it. Such products give the skin a lot of trace elements and vitamins, allowing you to rejuvenate it.
To prepare such masks, boiled or fresh inflorescences are scrolled through a meat grinder. Other ingredients (honey, grated cucumber, egg, etc.) can be added to this puree. Such masks are distinguished by a soft and gentle effect. They are applied to the face and held for 30 minutes. After the product is washed off with warm water. Such procedures are recommended 2 times a week.
Cooking
What recipes with cauliflower does cooking offer? This is a large list of various dishes. These include, for example, a delicious salad, which may include both fresh and boiled vegetables. You can enrich your body with minerals and vitamins using casseroles or stews, broth or soup, gratin and other tasty and healthy dishes.
But it is worth keeping in mind that in order for cauliflower not to lose its useful properties, it must be cooked in compliance with some rules:
1. Disassemble the vegetable for inflorescences.
2. Dip in boiling water.
3. Cook for 10-13 minutes, setting medium heat, and for a frozen vegetable, this period should be increased to 18 minutes.
4. Prevent darkening of cabbage, which will make a piece of sugar put in boiling water.
Only if all the above rules are observed, cauliflower will become a real assistant and friend for a woman.