Given a choice, what will you choose -- broccoli or cauliflower? One is an Indian vegetable, and one is an exotic veggie (but it is widely available in every part of the country). Although both are completely different in taste, people often get confused and think that broccoli is the same as cauliflower but green in colour. However, when it comes to nutrients, which is the healthier one was always a big question. So to help you pick the healthy option, we asked dietician and nutrition educator, Neha Chandna, to spill the beans. Here is what she said. Also read about are cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli as healthy as you think they are?
Broccoli Vs cauliflower -- which is healthier?
Broccoli and cauliflower both belong to the same family and have almost the similar nutrients but in different proportions. Broccoli has more of vitamin A, C, K, folate and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and phosphorus than cauliflower. These vegetables are also packed with dietary fibre and contain high amounts of antioxidants as well. Not just this, cauliflower and broccoli are known to be good for the heart due to the presence of potassium. The high amount of fibre not only helps you to keep your digestion in check but also aids in weight loss. However, if you have to choose one between the two, then broccoli is a healthier one than cauliflower because of its higher nutrient profile. Here are 10 ways to include broccoli in your diet. But if you are calorie conscious, then cauliflower has slightly lower calories than broccoli. A 100 gms of cauliflower provides 25 calories, whereas the same amount of broccoli gives you around 34 calories.
Can you replace broccoli with cauliflower?
According to Neha Chandna, you can replace broccoli with cauliflower if the recipe demands so. However, it is a best idea to make the best of both the vegetables by ensuring you include broccoli and cauliflower in diet to reap its benefits. The best or the right way to eat broccoli and cauliflower is to eat it steamed than cooking in oil or eating it raw. This is because, steaming (not boiling) makes it easy to digest along with keeping the nutrients intact. Here's more on which vegetables should you eat raw and which ones cooked? Also, make sure to buy these veggies from a reliable source as they can be worms. Hence, before you cut the vegetables for cooking, soak its florals in salt water for 5 - 10 minutes to ensure that all the worms are out and the vegetable is healthy to consume.
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