IndiaToday.in, Nikita, March 28, 2016

 

It makes you lose weight and fight cancer; here are 10 reasons to try The Cauliflower Diet

 

Radha Thomas wants you to consider this revolutionary new way of losing weight. She calls it the new rice, the new potato and the new thin. Are you ready to try it?

 

Losing weight one way or the other and following every possible new diet in the market has forever been on your mind, and you're probably even doing it, but have you ever wondered what it would be like to find a perfect (or shall we say, next-to-perfect) substitute that could make you shed those extra kilos AND keep you healthy?

 

Published by Random House India, The Cauliflower Diet is penned by Radha Thomas, an author and a Jazz singer, who claims to have discovered what she terms The Cauliflower Diet--an apt solution and the ideal mid-way point between dieting and going insane.

 

Thomas is reminding people about this extremely versatile veggie that can blend into any kind of cuisine in the world, which besides being low in carbs, is gluten-free and high in nutrients--precisely why you can use it in the preparation of all the things you love--rice, upma, cookies and even pizza.

 

Initially, Radha did not think too much of the cauliflower--blissfully unaware of the fact that it is very low on carbs and very high in nutrients. Calling it a life-changer, Thomas has come up with interesting recipes like Cauliflower Thayir Saadam to Cauliflower Mutton Biryaniand more in thisbook.

 

Cauliflower is naturally high in both fibre and B vitamins. Not to mention antioxidants and phytonutrients--chemicals that occur naturally in food, that serve many purposes. Easy on the digestive tract, cauliflower is also high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

 

 

Here are 10 good reasons (from the book) that could hook you to a cauliflower diet, starting today!

 

 

1. Diabetes: Almost every leading medical institution in the world agrees that a diet low on sugar and high in fibre will help fight diabetes. Cauliflower, with its ability to blend into any kind of cuisine, can be a perfect addition to a diabetic's daily diet--the patient is not only hunger-free, but also on the road to recovery. Cauliflower is rich in fibre, vitamins and contains very little carbohydrate. It is a perfect substitute for rice, and a perfect way to combat diabetes.

2. Heart disease: The cauliflower is wonderfully versatile substitute for carbohydrate and honestly, it's not difficult at all to get used to having cauliflower rice and curry. The heart benefits from a lower-carbohydrate approach that comes from a randomised trial known as the Optimal Macronutrient Intake Trial for heart health. A healthy diet that replaced some carbohydrates with protein or fat did a better job of lowering blood pressure and bad LDL cholesterol than a healthy, higher-carbohydrate diet. This is one of the reasons that most of the recipes in this book contain cauliflower along with some protein.

3. Digestion, constipation, and weight-loss: Around 70 per cent of a cauliflower is water. And it's high in fibre, which helps a person maintain a regular digestive tract, lowering the risk of colon cancer. Recent studies have shown that dietary fibre may play a role in regulating the immune system and inflammation, consequently decreasing the risk of inflammation-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity.

4. Cancer: Studies have suggested that the sulphur-containing compounds that give cruciferous vegetables their bitter bite, are also what give them their cancer-fighting power. Although, broccoli contains more sulphoraphane than cauliflower, cauliflower comes a close second. The incidence of prostate cancer among Indian men is very low, thanks to the combo of cauliflower and turmeric which is how most households cook it--it is an excellent preventive measure.

5. Vitamin K, blood and bones: Cauliflower being an excellent source of vitamin K, controls bleeding, and is great for bone health. 

6. Brain development and vitamin B: The cauliflower contains choline, a B vitamin that is said to improve brain function even in-utero (if you're pregnant). In addition, the nutrient contributes to the production of acetylcholine--a chemical involved in brain signalling, and it plays a role in the breakdown of fats in your body and makes up an important component of your cell membranes.

7. Iron absorption: According to WHO, cauliflower increases the amount of iron absorption in your body. For people who are anemic, the cauliflower could be a boon.

8. Immunity and vitamin C: Cauliflower is an amazing source of vitamin C and 100 gms provides almost half the daily required dosage of vitamin C. It can even keep the common cold at bay.

9. Liver: Much of our body's metabolism occurs in the liver. Cauliflower is a vegetable that's often considered a detox go-to because the chemicals in cruciferous veggies activate the liver enzyme CYP1A2--which helps neutralise certain carcinogens.

10. Anti-inflammatory properties: The body usually produces its own antibodies and fights the cold, the cough, even without you having to pop any pills. Cauliflower contains a healthy source of indole-3-carbinol, which prevents the growth of tumours.