Roasted Cauliflower with Turmeric – A Powerful Anti-inflammatory & Anti-Cancer Snack

January

22

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In case you are interested in preparing a healthy and tasty side dish, then you should definitely consider a recipe for roasted cauliflower with turmeric. This spice has a delicate flavor that often reminds people of a combination of pepper and ginger. If the turmeric is used together with the sweet/nutty taste of cauliflower which is emphasized with the help of roasting, you will notice that you are not missing rice or mashed potatoes in addition. There is no doubt that this recipe will become a great hit. What is even better is that this recipe found in Black Fitness Today is especially tasty when it’s served warm in the fall or winter period. On the other hand, it should be served chilled in spring and summer.

A Few Things You Should Know

  • Roasted cauliflower with turmeric is rich in nutrients and flavor
  • Cauliflower is packed with minerals, vitamins, and strong antioxidants that bring positive effects to the health and brain health and have the ability to protect the body from inflammation and cancer
  • Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric. This compound is known for its powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer properties.

Roasted Turmeric with Cauliflower

Ingredients:
  • One tablespoon of organic cauliflower
  • One head of organic cauliflower
  • A pinch of black cumin
  • One tablespoon of turmeric
  • Pepper and/or salt to taste (optional)
Instructions:
  1. To start with, preheat your oven to about 400 degrees F
  2. Take the cauliflower head and chop it into small florets
  3. Take a standard baking dish and put the chopped cauliflower inside. Add turmeric, black cumin, salt, and some olive oil, and mix all the ingredients well.
  4. Use foil to cover the dish in order to prevent the drying of florets and keep roasting the cauliflower for 40 minutes.
  5. Finally, remove the foil and keep cooking for about 15 minutes.
Even though the recipe includes virgin olive oil, many people suggest using coconut oil as an alternative. Virgin olive oil is prone to oxidation in case it’s heated and it is best to be used when it’s cold. On the other hand, coconut oil can be used at almost any temperature and it won’t lose its properties.

The Benefits of Eating Cauliflower

In case you are asking yourself why people should eat roasted turmeric cauliflower, you should start by analyzing the properties of cauliflower, one of the most important representatives of cruciferous veggies. Cauliflower comes with large quantities of sulforaphane. This sulfur-based compound has proven to be very successful in the elimination of cancer cells and slowing down the growth of tumors. There are some scientists who are convinced that the destruction of cancer stem cells is the most important thing when it comes to managing cancer. For example, a recent study has confirmed that making a combination of cauliflower and curcumin (turmeric’s active ingredient) encourages the prevention of prostate cancer and supports the treatment when this type of cancer is present. Another scientific study which was revealed in the popular Carcinogenesis magazine has shown that sulforaphane may have the ability to lower the risk of developing mammary tumors caused by chemicals in animals. This ingredient inhibits the spreading of human breast cancer cells too. In addition, cauliflower is packed with a large number of anti-inflammatory compounds that can contain inflammation. Indole-3-carbinolk also known as I3C is one of these compounds that works on a genetic level to restrain common inflammatory responses. Cauliflower also supports the natural process of detoxification in our bodies. This veggie comes with antioxidants that boost Stage I detox together with nutrients rich in sulfur which play important role in Stage II detoxification activities. Finally, the glucosinolates found in cauliflower boost the work of detox enzymes.

A Simple Way to Boost the Intake of Minerals, Vitamins, and Antioxidants

Eating dishes based on cauliflower is an easy way to boost the intake of the most important nutrients that most people lack. For example, only one regular serving of cauliflower comes with about 75% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C. Cauliflower is also rich in thiamin, protein, vitamin K, magnesium, fiber, niacin, phosphorus, riboflavin, potassium, folate, manganese, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid. This veggie is a decent source of choline, a type of vitamin B which supports proper brain development. Several studies have confirmed that pregnant animals were able to boost the brain activity of their young ones during pregnancy with the help of choline. In other words, this compound has the ability to improve learning, memory, and cognitive function in general. It is very likely that choline can slow down the aging process and protect the brain of children from harmful substances. Additionally, taking cauliflower on a regular basis means regular intake of phytonutrients and antioxidants. This vegetable is rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, rutin, quercetin, cinnamic acid, kaempferol, and many other ingredients. Is There Anything Healthier than Cauliflower? Yes! A Combination of Roasted Cauliflower with Turmeric! By making a combination of cauliflower and turmeric you will be able to strengthen the health benefits of eating cauliflower. Turmeric is a yellowish spice that is frequently used in Indian dishes and it contains curcumin. This polyphenol is actually its active compound that has more than 150 healing activities and has proven to provide excellent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer effects. Dr. William LaValley, a doctor who is specialized in cancer treatments, says that curcumin has proven to be helpful in cases of different types of cancer. In addition, curcumin is probably the most-researched ingredient when it comes to treating cancer because there are dozens of studies and trials that involved curcumin. It turns out that curcumin is capable of modifying gene expression and activity by eliminating cancer cells and supporting proper cell function. In addition, it supports anti-angiogenesis which means that it doesn’t allow the system to provide extra blood supply for the growth and spread of cancer cells. Additionally, many studies have shown that curcumin has the ability to:
  • Inhibit the replication of HIV
  • Ease or eliminate the symptoms of multiple sclerosis
  • Stabilize cholesterol levels
  • Boost bile secretion
  • Ease or eliminate signs and symptoms of myocardium infarction and thrombosis
  • Prevent cataracts
  • Soothe or eliminate the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
  • Protect the body from improper lipoprotein oxidation
  • Speed up wound healing
  • Ease or eliminate symptoms linked to type 2 diabetes
  • Ease or eliminate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
  • Inhibit the aggregation of platelet
  • Prevent pulmonary fibrosis and toxicity
  • Prevent liver damage.

Do You Like Cauliflower and Turmeric? Check This Recipe!

However, it is good to point out that there is only a small amount of curcumin in turmeric and this amount is probably not sufficient for people to feel all these benefits. For instance, turmeric root comes with a 3% turmeric concentration. This means that taking curcumin through turmeric is healthy, but if you want to enjoy the healing effects to the maximum you will need to use a special turmeric extract. In case you are fond of the cauliflower and turmeric combo, we will show you another good way how to prepare this combination. The World’s Healthiest Foods has shared this simple recipe which has proven to be rich in antioxidants and has shown good anti-inflammatory properties. The dish will be prepared in 5 minutes and you can use it as a snack, dinner, or lunch. Only one serving of this recipe comes with about 180% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C, 30% of folate, and 45% of vitamin K.

Healthy and Tasty Cauliflower with Turmeric

Ingredients:
  • Five tablespoons of chicken (low-sodium) or veggie broth
  • One pound of raw, organic cauliflower
  • One teaspoon of turmeric

Mediterranean-Style Dressing

  • Two medium cloves of garlic (chopped or pressed)
  • Two teaspoons of lemon juice
  • Three tablespoons of organic virgin olive oil
  • Pepper and/or sea salt to taste
Instructions:
  1. Take the cauliflower and cut it so that the florets are turned into quarters. Leave them for five minutes in order to activate the most useful ingredients.
  2. Take the garlic and chop it or press it. Leave for five minutes.
  3. Heat five tablespoons of veggie broth in a clean stainless steel skillet on low-medium heat.
  4. Once the broth starts steaming, add the turmeric and cauliflower and cover the skillet. If you want so-called al dente cauliflower keep cooking for up to five minutes
  5. Put the mixture in a bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients to get a better taste. The tasty Mediterranean-style Dressing doesn’t have to be made independently.
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