Cruciferous Vegetables Are Great For You!

Cruciferous vegetables get their name from the latin root for cross. This is referring to the shape of the flowers they produce with four petals. In latin the biological name of the family is Brassicaceae or Cruciferae, the mustard family or cabbage family. Examples of the crucifers are cabbage, kale, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower, mustard, raddish, and bok choy. In reading about these wonderful vegatables I learned that one of the minerals they are very high in is zinc. Zinc is helpful in building muscle mass and increasing testosterone in men. The crucifers are also are rich in vitamins A, B, C, D, and E.

In addition these vegetables contain a decent amount of protein, as well as phytonutrients such as glucosinolates, which is an effective cancer prevention phytochemical. When preparing these vegetables it is best not to overcook them, as they often give off a sulfurous odor. Of course raw, this smell does not occur.