Remember when Brussels Sprouts rose to fame? Once upon a time, these tiny little cabbages were at the very bottom of everyone's "delicious" list, and now they're dressed up on every popular restaurant menu, roasted, fried, baked, glazed and in every other conceivable form. The Brussels Sprout ascended to vegetable fame before our very eyes. Now, though, there's a new vegetable owning the spotlight, and finding its way into our fridge and onto our plates in the most creative of ways.
Enter - the Cauliflower.
In case you haven't noticed, the veg we always just assumed was Broccoli that didn't get enough sun, has taken over your local market. And for good reason. You see, Cauliflower isn't just some sad version of something green and leafy - it's a nutritional powerhouse all on its own, well-deserving of the attention.
We've used Cauliflower in our products since the beginning, and we're here to give you the rundown on why you want to sneak it into your diet every chance you get.
Hello, antioxidant powerhouse. Cauliflower is loaded with Vitamin C. According to whfoods.com, "cauliflower is our 10th best source of vitamin C among all 100 WHFoods" Antioxidants are the defense that our cells rely on against free radicals and inflammation, and reduce our risk of Heart Disease and Cancer, among other risks. The purple variety in particular packs an extra punch because it is rich in anthocyanins - an antioxidant compound found in foods with a purple or blue hue.
Cauliflower also helps to keep things running smoothly, if you catch our drift. This veg is pretty high in fiber. Healthline.com says "There are 3 grams of fiber in one cup of cauliflower, which is 10% of your daily needs.
Fiber also contributes to a decreased risk of inflammatory diseases like Heart Disease and Cancer, while also helping prevent digestive distress. The good gut bacteria we rely on to maintain a healthy digestive system feeds on fiber and can relieve us of discomforts such as bloating, constipation, etc.
You might be surprised to learn that Cauliflower contains at least some of nearly every vitamin and mineral that you need. Here's a list of nutrients found in one cup of raw cauliflower:
- Calories: 25
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Vitamin C: 77% of the RDI
- Vitamin K: 20% of the RDI
- Vitamin B6: 11% of the RDI
- Folate: 14% of the RDI
- Pantothenic acid: 7% of the RDI
- Potassium: 9% of the RDI
- Manganese: 8% of the RDI
- Magnesium: 4% of the RDI
- Phosphorus: 4% of the RDI
And in case you haven't noticed Cauliflower products popping up everywhere, it is truly one of the most versatile vegetables you can get your hands on and an excellent substitute ingredient in favorite foods as a low-carb alternative to grains and legumes. Nowadays, you can get your hands on things like cauliflower pizza crust and riced cauliflower in just about any grocery store.
We're using Cauliflower in every product we make here at Sneakz, including our newest addition - Meal2Go. Organic Cauliflower has a home in our custom veggie blend so that we can help you infuse goodness into any part of your day.