By Sharon Quercioli
White foods are generally foods that are to be avoided when it comes to diet and healthy vegetables. The color white normally signifies foods that are full of simple carbohydrates like sugars. Luckily, cauliflower isn’t one of those. In fact, cauliflower is actually incredibly healthy, despite its pale complexion.
Cauliflower is Filled with Vitamins and Minerals
Cauliflower is a good source of vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, magnesium, niacin, protein, phosphorus, fiber, folate, vitamin B6, manganese, potassium, and pantothenic acid. Each of those vitamins does wonders for your body. For example, folate helps pregnant women by helping keep their baby from having birth defects.
Choline is another B vitamin that is available in cauliflower. It helps with brain development during pregnancy. In fact, scientists are currently studying its effects on the elderly. Since it does such a great job helping infants and babies in the womb with their cognitive function, memory, and learning skills, they are hoping that it will do the same for people who may suffer from Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Cauliflower Can Help You Fight Cancer
It contains sulforaphane, which has killed cancer stem cells in laboratories and studies. This means that it can slow the growth of tumors. In fact, some of the leading cancer researchers believe that this means sulforaphane is one of the key ingredients that can help control cancer once and for all.
Some research has also stated that if you combine cauliflower and turmeric in a recipe, you may be able to treat and/or prevent prostate cancer. It’s not just for men though. Carcinogenisis recently published a study that stated that sulforaphane actually reduced the rate of mammary tumors in the animals that they were testing.
Cauliflower is an Anti-Inflammatory
Everyone needs a little bit of inflammation every now and then because that is how your body regulates possible threats to itself. However, sometimes our body goes overboard. If you don’t regulate how often your body triggers this inflammatory response when it doesn’t need to, it can lead to damage to your body. Cauliflower helps because it has I3C (or indole – 3 – carbinol), which is an anti-inflammatory compound. It helps stop your body from overusing the inflammatory response at a genetic level.
Cauliflower Can Help You Lose Weight
I’ve been experimenting with cauliflower meals for a long time. While trying to eat healthier, I decided to cut some simple starches and carbohydrates out of my diet. I replaced it with hearty vegetables of every color imaginable. Cauliflower is a great substitution for a number of different simple carbs and it has the added benefits of being healthy and delicious. If you’re thinking of cutting back on carbohydrates, I suggest looking up recipes for Cauliflower Fried Rice and Garlic Mashed Cauliflower. The fact that this versatile vegetable can do a great job mimicking the texture and flavor of both rice and mashed potatoes still fascinates me.
The recipe that I did choose to share with you today falls under a different category. One of the types of foods that can jump start your metabolism are spicy foods. Because of that, spicy foods can help you lose weight. It can also mask the need for extra and unhealthy spices and condiments. I have been making this recipe for quite some time and it is always requested at both summer and winter functions. Today, I’m going to share with you, my favorite recipe for…
Buffalo Roasted Cauliflower
What You’re Going to Need:
- A medium head of cauliflower that has been cut into florets that are the same size
- A tablespoon of your favorite oil
- Garlic, salt, and pepper to taste
- A fourth of a cup of your favorite hot sauce
- Some blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing for dipping sauces (optional)
What You’re Going to Do with These Ingredients:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Mix the oil and the seasonings in a small bowl.
- In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower florets with the oil/spice mixture until it is evenly covered.
- Place the florets in one layer on a baking sheet and roast for about a half an hour. Keep an eye on them; they should be slightly brown on the top.
- Carefully take the cauliflower out of the oven and pour it back into the large bowl. Then toss it with the hot sauce.
- Serve it warm with the dressing on the side.