As a game show host might say, “what do you think of when I say ‘cruciferous’?” Well, of course, “vegetables”! Cruciferous vegetables are particularly rich in a group of sulfur-containing compounds called glucosinolates. Bok choy 3. Since then, botanists have gradually been switching the word they use, with continuing widespread use of the older name Cruciferae. 5 Ways Cruciferous Vegetables May Fight Inflammation A Problem In PubMed – 2016 Update, PubMed Food Problem: Cruciferous Vegetables. When eaten raw or in large quantities, cruciferous vegetables like kale, collards, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, and broccoli, can in fact cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. Noun 1. cruciferous vegetable - a vegetable of the mustard family: especially mustard greens; various cabbages; broccoli; cauliflower; brussels sprouts veg Cruciferous vegetables are vegetables of the family Brassicaceae (also called Cruciferae) with many genera, species, and cultivars being raised for food production such as cauliflower, cabbage, kale, garden cress, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and similar green leaf vegetables. All Right Reserved. The significance of this is magnified by the fact that the family is very large, containing 372 genera and 4060 species, making it one of the largest flowering plant families. This seemingly arcane naming distinction is important because when the family name was Cruciferae, the word cruciferous was used to include all plants in the family, not just the edible species that we call “cruciferous vegetables,” which helps explain the common use of the word in the chart above. The word comes from the word “cross,” because the 4-petaled flowers have the appearance of a cross. Cruciferous vegetables are famously low in calories and high in nutrients. The Brassicaceae family, which includes the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, comprises … By Eric Rumsey, Janna Lawrence and Xiaomei Gu In a Google search for the word “cruciferous,“ 9 out of the top … EatingWell may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. And if so, what does being members of this family have to do with bearing a cross? © 2020 EatingWell.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. cruciferous (Adjective) Of, or relating to the crucifer plants or products from these plants; of the family Cruciferae, the cabbage family, including cabbage and mustard. To start, these vegetables are a good source of fiber to help with digestion and keeping you regular, but there's much more these dark green vegetables provide: Of course, each brassica vegetable has unique flavors and benefits. For 1/2 cup of cooked broccoli, you get more than 2 grams of fiber and 21% DV of folate. A 1-cup serving of cooked bok choi contains about 40% of the Daily Value of vitamin A, 48% DV of vitamin K and 17% DV of vitamin B6. The name cruciferous refers to the flowers that the plants produce. If you've ever been told to "eat dark, leafy greens" to maintain a healthy eating pattern, you might think it's about swapping out iceberg lettuce for spinach in your salad. (Images are from Wikipedia). Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, bok choy and cauliflower. Additionally, it’s a surprisingly interesting story. These peppery leaves add a little extra flavor and a lot of calcium to salads and pizzas. Some people have trouble getting enough fruits and vegetables, so if you're looking to increase your cruciferous vegetable intake or you aspire to follow a plant-based diet, we picked a few of the more common brassica vegetables to highlight for their nutritional value as well as the delicious dishes you can make with them. To modern ears, “cruciferous” is all about vegetables. Before that, the word “cruciferous” was widely used in other contexts. Radishes 11. Crucifers, like most other vegetables, are rich in fiber and various vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that help preserve and promote human health. The key to understanding “cruciferous” is a knowledge of its rich botanical history. Mustard greens 12. In a Google search for the word “cruciferous,“ 9 out of the top 10 retrievals contain the phrase “cruciferous vegetables.” This certainly does fit the predominant modern usage of the word. But the word’s rich history shows that it was formerly used in a much broader sense. Women who are balancing hormones through diet often eat these. Kale 9. The term "cruciferous vegetables" refers to the common cultivars in the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae family with cross-bearing flowers, hence their other name "crucifers." If you haven't yet been converted, know that these nutrient-packed veggies can be transformed into daily delights. Before that, the word “cruciferous” was widely used in other contexts. Relating to the image of three flowers at the top of the article, another help in understanding “cruciferous” is the etymology of the word itself. (“a very important model organism in the study of the flowering plants”). Raw, some make great slaws and salads, while others can be too bitter for some palates. Their sulfur-containing compounds (called glucosinolates) give them a bitter taste and pungent aroma. How Eating Vegetables Affects the Brain. Broccoli is a versatile cruciferous vegetable: it can add healthy amounts of green to all sorts of dishes as well as provide much-needed nutrients. Broccoli and broccoli sprouts 4. The significance of this is magnified by the fact that the family is very large, containing 372 genera and 4060 species, making it one of the largest flowering plant families. A 1-cup serving of raw cauliflower contains 57% DV of vitamin C and 14% DV of vitamin K, along with healthy doses of folate, vitamin B6 and potassium. Does this mean you should stop drinking green juice or can you keep juicing to maximize your mineral and nutrient intake?. Some studies have revealed that cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, kale, and spinach, may have negative side effects on thyroid health. Gardeners in warmer USDA zones should try growing quick maturing varieties. What is the distinguishing characteristic? This large group of plants is diverse, each providing strong, unique flavors. Seriously, I can't find why these vegetables are called "cruciferous." Soy Cruciferous vegetables have a chemical in them that is formed when the cell wall is crushed. Getty Images. It’s categorized as an isothiocyanate. As a game show host might say, “what do you think of when I say ‘cruciferous’?” Well, of course, “vegetables”! Offers may be subject to change without notice. The chart below gives a hint of this. Simply because they are members of the family Brassicaceae? As the Google Ngram chart below shows, the phrase “cruciferous vegetables” only came into prominent use about 1980. In conclusion, the word “cruciferous” is confusing because the word has its origins in a time when the large family Brassicaceae was called Cruciferae, which meant that all of the plants in the family (most of which are not edible) were referred to as “cruciferous.” In the last generation, as botanists have switched to calling the family Brassicaceae instead of Crucuferae, and as people have become more aware of nutrition, the word “cruciferous” has gradually come to be used most commonly in the context of “cruciferous vegetables.” As we’ll discuss in a companion article, it’s important to know about this history and the taxonomic relationships of cruciferous vegetables in order to do successful searches in research databases like PubMed. (Examples from Google Books of the broad botanical use of the word “cruciferous” in the 19th century are, .) Another detail that gives an idea of the size and variety of the family and helps explain the widespread use of “cruciferous” is that, in addition to cruciferous vegetables, it also includes decorative flowers, weeds, and. Why Your Stomach Sometimes Hurts When You Eat Cruciferous Vegetables. They also possess sulfur-containing compounds that have been associated with many health benefits. Of, or relating to the crucifer plants or products from these plants; of the family Cruciferae, the cabbage … Another detail that gives an idea of the size and variety of the family and helps explain the widespread use of “cruciferous” is that, in addition to cruciferous vegetables, it also includes decorative flowers, weeds, and Arabidopsis thaliana (“a very important model organism in the study of the flowering plants”). Define cruciferous vegetable. It's a tasty crisp-tender veggie, but it does a lot more than add texture to dinner. Producing only four petals the flowers resemble a cross. They're all members of the cruciferous, or cabbage, family of vegetables. This is important for more than simply historic reasons; it’s also important to understand the meaning of the word to understand its connections to nutrition, and because it helps to search for the subject in databases such as PubMed (as we’ve discussed in a companion article). They include: 1. What does "cruciferous" in this context mean? This and other details of the family are well-covered by a, article on it. But it hasn’t always been this way. Cruciferous vegetables are vegetables in the Brassicaceae family of plants. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Cruciferous or Brassica vegetables are so named because they come from plants in the family known to botanists and biologists as Cruciferae or alternately, Brassicaceae. However, 100 calories' worth of cruciferous vegetables typically gives us somewhere between one-third and one-half of a gram of omega-3 fat (333-500 milligrams). Cruciferous veggies are a diverse group that includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, bok choy, arugula, Brussels sprouts, collards, watercress and radishes. Not only does 1 cup (cooked) of these mini cabbage-like veggies give you 4 grams of fiber, but the same amount also has 11% DV of potassium and 107% DV of vitamin C. As slaw or as egg roll filling, cabbage can take on flavors and textures in nutrient-packed dishes enjoyed around the world. This is important for more than simply historic reasons; it’s also important to understand the meaning of the word to understand its connections to nutrition, and because it helps to search for the subject in databases such as PubMed (as we’ve discussed in a, This seemingly arcane naming distinction is important because when the family name was Cruciferae, the word cruciferous was used to include all plants in the family, not just the edible species that we call “cruciferous vegetables,” which helps explain the common use of the word in the chart above. A 1-cup serving of raw cabbage packs 28% DV of vitamin C and 2 grams of fiber; savoy and red cabbage also boast healthy amounts of beta carotene. belonging to the family Cruciferae (or Brassicaceae), the mustard family of plants; brassicaceous: Are you getting enough broccoli, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables in your diet? Cabbage 6. 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