Cruciferous Vegetables: Did You Know?

by | Oct 28, 2008

Brussels sprouts are a member of the cruciferous or brassica vegetable family. The term cruciferous means “cross-bearing” since the four petals of their leaves resemble a cross. Popular cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cabbage and kale, but also root vegetables such as turnips and rutabaga.

Cruciferous vegetables are usually what we are talking about when we say “green leafy vegetables,” and they are thought to have anti-cancer properties.

Some people consider cruciferous vegetables to be “functional foods” or “super foods,” because they have benefits beyond basic nutrition. For instance, these vegetables are rich in compounds that have been shown to fight cancer and other diseases.

It is in your best interest to learn to love cruciferous vegetables. I eat them several times a week (preferably daily).

Other members of this vegetable family include:

  • broccoli
  • kale
  • cabbage
  • collard greens
  • bok choy
  • cauliflower
  • turnip
  • mustard greens
  • radish
  • watercress
  • arugula
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7 Responses to “Cruciferous Vegetables: Did You Know?”

  1. Jed Wolpaw says:

    DARYA! You can’t use the cruciferous curse! It’s one of the forbidden spells. Only he-who-shall-not-be-named uses it. I call you have to call them vegetables-that-shall-not-be-named from now on.

  2. Anonymous says:

    I just ate broccoli tonight!!! Try the Trader Joe’s baby broccoli, its all ready and packaged to go. The only things on that list that I have readily available are:broccolibok choycauliflowerturnipradisharugulabtw, anyone know whats in season right now?

  3. Zeus says:

    Broccoli? You aren’t gonna win friends with broccoli……Where’s the MEAT?!!!!!!!!

  4. Nicholas says:

    Cummon, we all know that meat is bad for you, right Darya? Meat should cover the smallest portion of a dinner plate….

  5. Darya Pino says:

    jed:You sure know a lot about curses. What are you some kind of mago gringo?—–anon:My Farmers Market Updates are the place to look if you want to know what’s in season. Right now it is Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and most of the thick leaved vegetables I mentioned. Root vegetables like turnips are also in season.——zeus:I have definitely won friends with broccoli. Besides, I posted about bacon yesterday ;)——nicholas:Right on!

  6. Chinasaur says:

    What no love for my man kohlrabi??Not easy to find really good ones for reasonable price, but it’s worth it. Really good ones you can eat raw like an apple. Purple is good steamed.As you probably know, a lot of your list is not only the same family and same genus, but actually the same species; Brassica oleracea is a mighty tribe of cultivars.

  7. Darya Pino says:

    chinasaur:Thanks, I always love your insights. I have to admit I have never had a kohlrabi so good I could eat it raw. I’ll keep my eyes (mouth?) open.

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