Battle of the cruciferous veggies.
I remember the first time I saw cauliflower, I thought someone was playing a joke on me. “What is this?” I wondered, “did Mom somehow drain all of the color out of the nightly broccoli?” But nope; though cauliflower looks like broccoli from the Negative Zone, they are two distinct vegetables with their own strengths and weaknesses. As is customary for two things that look kind of similar, the only sensible decision is to pit them against each other.
As far as nutritional content goes, broccoli has the edge, possessing a higher level of vitamins C and K, fiber, and other essential stuff. Cauliflower, on the other hand, is leaner, possessing fewer carbs and calories, as well as beating out broccoli in vitamin B-6 content. I think we’ll give this one to cauliflower.
Both broccoli and cauliflower are high in antioxidants, which are good for preventing inflammation and managing chronic conditions. Cauliflower does have a few antioxidants that broccoli doesn’t, but broccoli has the added bonus of lutein and zeaxanthin, which are good for your eyes. We’ll call that a win for broccoli.
Cruciferous vegetables are known for their heart-strengthening properties, something reflected in both broccoli and cauliflower. These kinds of veggies are great for lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure, which in turn helps keep your heart ticking along at a proper pace. Since both veggies can do this for you, I guess we have to call this one a tie.
So that’s one point for cauliflower, one point for broccoli, and a tie. That means the winner is… both. It’s both. Eat both.
While broccoli and cauliflower differ slightly in their nutritional content, they’re both great for you, and can be prepared in all sorts of tasty ways. My mom has a pretty kickin’ recipe for roasted veggies that includes broccoli and cauliflower, and I always looked forward to it when I was a kid. Get some broccoli and cauliflower in you on a regular basis, and your body will thank you for it.
