Benefits of Turnips

Turnips

Turnip is a vegetable that is a member of the cruciferous family much like collards, broccolis, Brussel sprouts and Kale. Cruciferous vegetables grows in temperate climates and are found in all regions across the globe. Mostly cultivated for their bulbous roots which provides a wide range of health benefits, sprouts and leaves of Turnip plant are also edible and are highly nutritious in their contents.

It has been clinically found that one cup of boiled and mashed turnips contains 76 mg of Calcium, 407 mg of potassium, 21 mg of magnesium and it provides approximately 51 calories. The same serving size of turnips also provides 26 mg of Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin K.
It is indeed a welcoming news for patients who have Diabetes that although turnip root is considered as a starchy vegetable, but in reality, turnips contains only one third of calories that we may find in potatoes.

It has also been found that turnip greens contains higher concentration of nutrients and compounds than its root.

Looking back into history. Pliny the Elder, who was a famous Roman philosopher, considered turnips to be one of the most nutritious and important foods during his time.

Here are some of the most important health benefits of this cruciferous plant:

Prevents Cancer

Turnips contains very high quantity of phytonutrients and antioxidants that plays a vital role in reducing risk of cancer. As the Glucosinolate levels in turnip greens are very high, researches has shown that the Glucosinolate present in this vegetable helps our liver to fight against toxins. It also aids in fighting against the harmful effects of carcinogens which most commonly inhibits the growth of tumor cells in our body.

It’s healthy for our heart

It has been found that turnips has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, which is considered as the key for preventing maladies like heart attack and coronary ailments. As turnips contains a large amount of foliate and Vitamin B, consuming this vegetable helps in lowering the cholesterol levels in our body, which is once again an essential requirement for our cardiovascular health.

Combats free radicals

Turnip offers a wide spectrum of antioxidant support, as this cruciferous vegetable is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, manganese and beta-carotenes. The essential nutritional elements found in turnip also offers complex phytonutrient support that helps in simulating antioxidant activities, which aids in combating against the harmful free radicals inside our body. As increased amount of free radical activity escalates the process of DNA damage to our cells, consuming turnips helps in reducing such malefic effects.

Helps in digestion

Turnip greens which are chalk-full of fibers, helps to support our digestive system. In a recent research done on this cruciferous vegetable in 2011, it has been suggested that the Glucosinolates present in turnips may also help our stomach to process bacteria like
Helicobacter-pylori.

Helps in bone growth

As turnip is a great source of potassium and calcium which are one of the most essential substances needed for our bone growth, eating turnips aids in preventing bone diseases such as skeletal deformations and osteoporosis.

Apart from the above stated benefits turnips are also an effective food that can increase our metabolic rate and thus help us in weight loss.

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