Nothing is more comforting than a bowl of hot soup after a day in the winter cold. In addition to being warm and comforting, soup is a very healthy food option. It is delicious and helps to easily increase vegetable intake for picky eaters who miss out on the nutrients in rich vegetables such as crucifers. Today we share with you a delicious recipe for a cruciferous dish full of rich flavor, so enjoy this creamy cauliflower soup this season and throughout the year.
Also, some nutrients are better absorbed into the body when heated. For example, cooked carrots produce more absorbable beta-carotene, and cooking kale or spinach increases the amount of your B-vitamin folic acid.
The comforting effects of soup
Soup can also have emotional benefits due to its association with love and comfort. Many people associate soup with nursing while sick as children, or some other fond memory.
Also, our brains tend to connect physical warmth and social warmth. This means that things like thick blankets or even holding a hot mug can increase positive feelings towards other people, and this can extend to those who are seen as culturally different.
One study found that Japanese college students who held a hot cup for a few minutes showed more positive attitudes towards Chinese compared to another group who held cold cups.
Soup can be a delicious appetizer or a main dish, but watch out for the halo effect, where people consider food to be healthy and tend to eat more as a result.
In a study at Queen's University Belfast 2,075 participants from the Island of Ireland and Denmark received the following instructions: Imagine that you are only eating vegetable soup for your dinner. How much would you eat? Soup serving size decisions were found to be influenced by how healthy they perceived the soup to be.
Specifically, those who viewed the soup as healthier chose a larger serving size. Also, Danish participants who were more health conscious chose larger soup portions.
The health benefits of cauliflower
Cauliflower is a very versatile vegetable that stars in this soup recipe. It is low in calories and high in vitamins. Here is a summary of the nutrients according to the recommended dosage:
• Calories: 25
• Fiber: 3 grams
• Vitamin C: 77% of the RDI (Recommended Daily Intake)
• Vitamin K: 20% of the RDI
• Folate: 14% of the RDI
• Vitamin B6: 11% of the RDI
• Potassium: 9% of the RDI
• Manganese: 8% of the RDI
• Pantothenic acid: 7% of the RDI
• Phosphorus: 4% of the RDI
• Magnesium: 4% of the RDI
The high fiber content in cauliflower can help promote digestive health and reduce inflammation and help prevent digestive problems like constipation, diverticulitis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Cauliflower is also a good source of antioxidants that protect the body from inflammation and harmful free radicals. Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower are rich in two groups of antioxidants, glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, which can slow the progression of cancer cells.
Test tube studies have shown that these two groups are especially helpful for colon, breast, lung, and prostate cancer.
This vegetable is also rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant known for its anti-inflammatory benefits that can boost the immune system.
Its low-calorie content has made cauliflower a popular diet ingredient and has appeared in many trending recipes like cauliflower pizza crust, vegan chicken nuggets, and cauliflower rice.
However, for the winter months, no cauliflower recipe is as appealing as this creamy soup served warm that is packed with the benefits of cauliflower and the calming effects of everyone's favorite comfort food.
Creamy Cauliflower Soup (with vegan options)
Ingredients
• 1 medium-headed cauliflower, divided into small florets
• 1 medium carrot, grated
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• ½ cups vegetable broth
• tablespoons cornstarch (try arrowroot as a substitute if you avoid corn products)
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• cups of 2% milk (or use dairy-free milk of your choice)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or use ½ cup nutritional yeast for a dairy-free option)
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon pesto of your choice or hot pepper sauce, optional
* To substitute arrowroot flour, use a 2: 1 ratio (2 teaspoons arrowroot flour = 1 tablespoon cornstarch)
Instructions
1 In a saucepan, combine the cauliflower, carrots, celery, and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil.
2 Reduce heat and cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. (Don't drain)
3 In a large saucepan, add the milk and cornstarch over medium heat, and beat until a mixture form. Add the salt and pepper.
4 Reduce the heat and add the cheese until melted. Add the cauliflower mixture and serve. Add the pesto or hot pepper sauce if desired.
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