Cauliflower is hailed a wonder vegetable — it can do so many things and can even be made into rice. But while its benefits are numerous, there are also side effects that must be given some attention.
Below are three cauliflower side effects, although they do not negate the wonders of this vegetable. Before deciding to stop eating them altogether just because of these side effects, better consult your physician (this is a cancer-curing vegetable, after all! You do not want to miss that amazing benefit).
They Can Make You Feel Bloated
If you eat loads of cauliflower and eat it frequently, one documented side effect is flatulence and bloating.
Cauliflower is a cruciferous food. It means it has cancer-fighting elements. However, cruciferous vegetables, not only contain the nutrients people would want to have in their bodies-like vitamins C, E, and K-but they also contain FODMAPs.
FODMAPs are fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols, or in other worlds, short-chain carbohydrates that don't digest in the small intestine easily. This can be problematic for the digestive system.
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If they are not digested easily, they can ferment in the large intestine, causing bloating and gas, and even irritable bowel syndrome, as reported by some scientific journals.
Cooking the cauliflower correctly is one effective way to avoid this side effect, as well as eating cauliflower not at excessive or exaggerated frequency.
Note that everyone's tolerance is different, so too much cauliflower for one person might not be too much for another. Naturally, one can notice if eating cauliflower is already is creating G.I. distress, like excess gas and bloating for him or her. This is an indication that the body cannot take it.
"Make sure to drink enough water to move it through your system," suggests Barbara Lincoln, RD.
They Can Affect the Effectiveness of Medications
Cauliflower is a vegetable with amazing amount of Vitamin K. This is good because it can prevent certain diseases. But it can also be quite problematic if one is already on certain medications. Vitamin K is known for working against certain medications, including blood thinners.
The interaction of Vitamin K from cauliflower and blood-thinning medications can cause some blood imbalance. This is why doctors often warn against eating cauliflower when prescribing blood thinners.
It does not mean not eating the vegetable though. There is a need to keep count of the amount only. Just 1 cup of cauliflower has about 20% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin K, so eating a bit less when on blood thinners is the key.
They Can Cause Gout and Kidney Issues
Cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower contain purines.
Purines are substances usually in beef, organ meat, sardines, spinach, and then, the cruciferous vegetables. When broken down, purines become uric acid, which can quickly accumulate in the kidney and develop into problematic stones.
People with gout and kidney issues therefore must consult their doctors first as to the amount of cauliflower they can eat.
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