The Health Benefits of Kohlrabi Vegetable

Kohlrabi, Knol-khol or German Turnip is a vegetable belonging to the Brassica family and have similar taste and texture as that of a broccoli stem or cabbage, but milder and sweeter. Knol-knol notably has good levels of minerals; copper, calcium, potassium; manganese, iron, and phosphorus are especially available in the stem.

 

Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure by countering effects of sodium. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Kohlrabi (or Brassica oleracea) is a perennial plant as it is grown all throughout the year. It has a very cool and succulent stem, which is normally consumed.

 

A stout, round, tuberous vegetable that is said to be native to Europe offers a variety of health benefits. The good amount of dietary fiber contained in kohlrabi helps promote regularity in bowel movement by maintaining healthy intestines and colon. Regular consumption of kohlrabi will strengthen the body’s immune system which can be attributed to its vitamin C content.

 

Kohlrabi Vegetable
Kohlrabi Vegetable

Vitamin C contributes to defence mechanisms, aids iron absorption and enables the regeneration of vitamin E. Kohlrabi, like other members of the Brassica family, contains health-promoting phytochemicals such as isothiocyanates, sulforaphane, and indole-3-carbinol that are supposed to protect against prostate and colon cancers. Kohlrabi leaves or tops, like turnip greens, are also very nutritious greens abundant in carotenes, vitamin A, and vitamin K, minerals and B-complex group of vitamins.

 

Kohlrabi is popularly used in India in many cuisines; it is used in many vegetable preparations, along with other vegetables. It is also known to cure diabetes. You should have a cup of an aqueous extract of this vegetable every morning if you are a diabetic patient. It makes the immune system of your body stronger, by stimulating certain enzymes which makes your immune system stronger, due to the presence of compounds in it like isothiocyanates and sulphoraphanes.