Turnips are presently in season. Turnips are vegetables which have a purple, red or green exterior and have a white-fleshed bulb, also called the storage root which grows above the ground and has a smooth skin without scars or side roots. They are not to be grouped with potatoes or beetroot as we think but are actually cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and bok choy.
- Nutritional Content: Turnips are low in calories and contain fibre, protein, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3,B4 and B5, C, E and K. Also contains folate, phosphorous and calcium. Both turnips and its greens also contain iron, magnesium and potassium.
- Gut Health: Being high in fibre, turnips help in reducing inflammation as well as the risk of diverticulitis. Helps relieve constipation and promotes regularity.
- Eye Health: Turnips are also rich in lutein — an antioxidant. This prevents problems like macular degeneration and cataracts.
- Blood Pressure: Turnips contain dietary nitrates which provide multiple benefits for the health of blood vessels. Turnips provide potassium and help lower blood pressure by releasing sodium from the body and helping arteries dilate.
- Weight loss: Turnips, being high in fibre, have a high satiety level. Turnips keep you full for longer and are extremely low in calories. Thus turnips are good on a weight loss diet.
- Cardiovascular Health: Turnips have anti- inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may help in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. They have a high content of healthy fats that may help in regulating cholesterol levels. Turnips also enhance glucose metabolism and thus promotes cardiovascular health.
- Diabetes Management: Turnips contain various biological compounds that help in the management of blood sugar. isorhamnetin is a compound present in turnip which inhibits the enzyme that plays an important role in diabetes complications. Quercetin is another compound present in turnip that reduces the blood sugar level and improves the sensitivity and action of insulin. It also protects the pancreatic beta cells from damage and oxidative stress.
- In addition, turnips support healthy liver and kidney function, can protect against cancer, lowers cholesterol and triglycerides, strengthen the bones, helps in jaundice, hepatitis and sore