Cauliflower is a popular winter vegetable that is widely produced in India. Typically, we cook the white or yellow flower section and discard the green leaves in the garbage can or feed them to domestic animals.
Discarded leaves are equally nutritious as the other parts of cauliflower.
Cauliflower leaves are less often used and less priced leafy vegetables with untapped nutritional potential. It is rich in various nutrients yet has the highest waste index.
Not convinced yet? Not only nutritional benefits, but the following health benefits may persuade you to reconsider.
Cauliflower Leaves Benefits
Many researchers have conducted clinical investigations on the health benefits of cauliflower leaves, which are mentioned below:
1. Cauliflower leaves are high in proteins and minerals such as calcium and iron, which are important for children's appropriate growth and development. Cauliflower leaves are extremely useful to undernourished children when consumed on a daily basis. This aids in the development of their height, weight, and haemoglobin
2. Most of us, regardless of age or gender, suffer from "hidden hunger" or micronutrient deficiencies. Because of our poor eating habits, iron, calcium, and vitamin, A deficiencies are frequent even among children and adults from well-to-do families. In today's world, we are mostly reliant on processed and fast foods, which are tasty, satisfy our appetite, and provide macronutrients such as fat, carbs, and protein, but are deficient in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
3. Cauliflower leaf is a good source of iron, with 40 mg per 100g, making it a good choice for preventing and treating anemia in children, adolescent girls, and women. Many scientific studies have shown that cauliflower greens can help in anemia treatment.
4. In our country, vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a severe public health issue. In our country, subclinical VAD affected more than 60% of preschool children. Among the South Asian countries, India has the greatest prevalence of clinical and subclinical VAD. About 85 percent of South-Asian xerophthalmic youngsters reside in our country. Night blindness is predicted to impact 5.2 million preschoolers and 9.8 million pregnant women around the world. Cauliflower leaves can effectively raise serum retinol levels, which is beneficial for maintaining eye health and preventing night blindness.
5. Because cauliflower leaf is high in antioxidants, it can protect us from free radical damage and oxidative stress, lowering the risk of chronic diseases.
6. Because cauliflower leaf contains a high concentration of antioxidants, it can protect us from free radical damage and oxidative stress, lessening our risk of developing chronic diseases.
7. Cauliflower leaf powder (CLP) is anti-inflammatory.
8. Cauliflower leaf is high in calcium. As a result, it is beneficial to middle-aged and postmenopausal women. Because of their high calcium content, these greens have the ability to prevent the onset of osteoporosis and other bone-related disorders.
So, next winter, consider again before ignoring and discarding these leaves. Start using cauliflower leaf before it becomes an expensive "superfood." After all, it is completely free till now.
