According to  Answers, the answer is yes and no. Those firm ivory-colored heads in our fields are composed of tiny buds, thousands of them tightly packed together, which have not yet blossomed into flowers. If we left them in the field -- and they didn't freeze -- each head would produce thousands of cauliflower flowers.

Flourishing Great Country cauliflower field

8 Top Health Benefits of Cauliflower

(according to Dr. Mercola)

 

1. It Fights Cancer. Cauliflower contains sulforaphane, a sulfur compound that has also been shown to kill cancer stem cells, thereby slowing tumor growth.

 

2. It Boosts Heart Health. Scientists believe sulforaphane's benefits are related to improved DNA methylation, which is crucial for normal cellular function and proper gene expression, especially in the easily damaged inner lining of the arteries known as the endothelium.

 

3. It's Anti-Inflammatory. Cauliflower contains a wealth of anti-inflammatory nutrients to help keep inflammation in check, including indole-3-carbinol or I3C, an anti-inflammatory compound that may operate at the genetic level to help prevent the inflammatory responses at its foundational level.

 

4. It's Rich in Vitamins and Minerals. Most Americans are seriously lacking in nutrients their body needs to function. Eating cauliflower regularly is a simple way to get these much-needed nutrients into your body.

 

 

6. It Facilitates Detoxification. Cauliflower helps your body's ability to detoxify in multiple ways.

 

7. It Improves Digestion. Cauliflower is an important source of dietary fiber for digestive health. 

 

8. It Has Antioxidants and Phytonutrients Galore. Eating cauliflower is like winning the antioxidant and phytonutrient lottery. It's packed with vitamin C, beta-carotene, kaempferol, quercetin, rutin, cinnamic acid, and much more. Antioxidants are nature's way of providing your cells with adequate defense against attack by reactive oxygen species (ROS). 

 

As long as you have these important micronutrients, your body will be able to resist aging caused by your everyday exposure to pollutants, chronic stress, and more. If you don't have an adequate supply of antioxidants to help squelch free radicals, then you can be at risk of oxidative stress, which leads to accelerated tissue and organ damage.

 

5-Minute Cauliflower with Turmeric

Considering the research showing that cauliflower sprinkled with turmeric (which contains the powerful golden-hued polyphenol curcumin) may be especially powerful in fighting cancer, I wanted to share this quick recipe with you, from the World's Healthiest Foods.10 This anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich dish cooks up in just five minutes, making it perfect for lunch, dinner or even a quick snack. Impressively, one serving of this dish provides 181% of the daily value for vitamin C, 46% for vitamin K, and 33% for folate!

 

Healthy Cauliflower with Turmeric

 

Ingredients:

 

1 lb cauliflower

5 tbs low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

1 tsp turmeric

Mediterranean Dressing

 

3 tbs extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp lemon juice

2 medium cloves garlic, pressed or chopped

Sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

 

Cut cauliflower florets into quarters and let sit for 5 minutes to bring out their hidden health benefits. Press or chop garlic and let sit for 5 minutes. Heat 5 tbs broth in a stainless steel skillet on medium heat. When broth begins to steam, add cauliflower and turmeric and cover. For al dente cauliflower, cook for no more than 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. For more flavor, toss cauliflower with the remaining ingredients while it is still hot. (Mediterranean Dressing does not need to be made separately.)

 

We have a lot of cauliflower, broccoli, and kale still in the field, so please come out and pick your fill of these lovely cruciferous vegetables.