Healthy Eating: Kohlrabi
One of the natural health solutions is healthy eating. Welcome to the wonderful world of Kohlrabi. This member of the Brassica genus is delicious and good for your health.
Wikipedia points out that:
Kohlrabi can be eaten raw as well as cooked. The low-calorie plant is high in dietary fibers and contains the dietary minerals selenium, folic acid, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium and copper. And,
Though sometimes called “space cabbage,” kohlrabi really is a very down-to-earth veggie. German for “cabbage turnip,” kohlrabi is a member of the extensive cabbage family (which also includes broccoli, cauliflower, kale and mustard) and offers the same awesome health benefits as these cole crop cousins.
Like other cabbage crops, kohlrabi is loaded with good nutrition. Just 1 cup of raw kohlrabi contains nearly 100 percent of the daily requirement for vitamin C, plus it’s a good source of fiber, and has less than 40 calories. Cole crops such as kohlrabi also contain glucosinolates, which break down into compounds that researchers think may help protect against many kinds of cancer.
As mentioned earlier, kohlrabi is a great source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is important for energy because it increases the body’s ability to absorb iron better. Iron is needed to transport oxygen in red blood cells.
The lack of oxygen will decrease your energy, without oxygen the mitochondria will not be able to process energy and your cells will die within minutes. Because of its antioxidant features, vitamin C is great for protecting cells and DNA from free radicals. Kohlrabi is also a decent source of vitamin B6, vitamin E and potassium.
The flavor of kohlrabi can be described as similar to raw broccoli stems mixed with cabbage, turnip and radish, but slightly sweeter. Kohlrabi can be eaten as raw or cooked. When cooking kohlrabi, don’t cook it too long or the heat will destroy many of its nutrients.
To help preserve the nutrients, you should use a lid to cover the vegetable. You can also use a pressure cooker to reduce the cooking time, this will help preserve the nutrients. If you are on a calorie diet, kohlrabi will bring a smile to your lovely face. One cup of kohlrabi can have as low as 35 calories.
Healthy Eating:Kohlrabi
- Good for the skeletal and digestive system.
- Great for protecting cells and DNA from free radicals.
- Great source of antioxidants.
- Help the body to absorb iron better.
- Improves oxygen circulation which increases energy.
- Good source of fiber.
- Help stabilize blood sugar imbalances.
Kohlrabi Fries Recipe:
(courtesy of Stone’s Throw Farm)
Peel and slice raw kohlrabi into thin matchstick-sized strips. Spread out the strips in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper if desired. Bake 20 to 30 minutes at 400 degrees until the kohlrabi softens slightly, but still has a light crunch.
September 02 2009 10:31 pm | Healthy Eating