Cauliflower
OTHER NAME(S): Blumenkohl, Cavolfiore, Cavolo Broccoli, Cavolfiore, Cavolo Fiore, Chou Broccoli, Chou Fleur, Chou Fleur D'hiver, Common Cauliflower, Couve Flor, Hana Kyabetsu, Hana Yasai, Hua Ye Cai, Kalafior, Kapusta Tsvetnaia, Karifurawaa, Kopfbrokkoli, Lillkapsas, Phuul Gobhii, Brassica oleracea, Coliflor, Chou-fleur
Overview
Cauliflower is a vegetable. The head or curd of cauliflower is commonly eaten as food. It is also used as medicine.
Cauliflower is used for obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Cauliflower contains chemicals that might help the body get rid of components from food or the environment that are thought to cause cancer. Cauliflower might also have antioxidant activity.
Cauliflower contains chemicals that might help the body get rid of components from food or the environment that are thought to cause cancer. Cauliflower might also have antioxidant activity.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Bladder cancer. People who eat large amounts of cauliflower and related vegetables might have a lower risk of developing bladder cancer. But conflicting results exist.
- Breast cancer. Postmenopausal women who eat large amounts of cauliflower and related vegetables don't seem to have a lower risk of breast cancer.
- Diabetes. Women who eat cauliflower and related vegetables don't seem to have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who don't eat these vegetables.
- Lung cancer. Eating larger amounts of cauliflower has been linked with a lower risk of developing lung cancer in women but not men.
- Cancer that starts in white blood cells (non-Hodgkin lymphoma). Women who eat larger amounts of cauliflower and related vegetables might have a lower risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. But eating cauliflower and related vegetables isn't linked with a lower risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in men.
- Prostate cancer. People who eat larger amounts of cauliflower and related vegetables might have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer.
- Stroke. Eating larger amounts of cauliflower and related vegetables has been linked with a lower risk of strokes caused by blood clots.
- Low levels of healthy red blood cells (anemia) due to iron deficiency.
- Heart disease.
- Symptoms of menopause.
- Obesity.
- Weak and brittle bones (osteoporosis).
- A disease caused by vitamin C deficiency (scurvy).
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of cauliflower for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: Cauliflower is LIKELY SAFE when consumed in food amounts. There isn't enough reliable information to know if cauliflower is safe or what the side effects might be when used in medicinal amounts.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: Cauliflower is LIKELY SAFE when consumed in food amounts. There isn't enough reliable information to know if cauliflower is safe or what the side effects might be when used in medicinal amounts.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if cauliflower is safe to use in medicinal amounts when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to usual food amounts.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with CauliflowerSome medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Cauliflower might increase how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking cauliflower along with some medications that are changed by the liver can decrease the effectiveness of those medications. Before taking cauliflower talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver. Some of these medications that are changed by the liver include clozapine (Clozaril), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), mexiletine (Mexitil), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pentazocine (Talwin), propranolol (Inderal), tacrine (Cognex), theophylline, zileuton (Zyflo), zolmitriptan (Zomig), and others.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of cauliflower depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for cauliflower. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
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