Published By: Sayan Paul

Romanesco: An Exotic Vegetable Loaded with Nutrients

Romanesco belongs to the Brassica family of vegetables.

It's a nutritional powerhouse, offering an incredible range of benefits to your health.

Here's more!

Romanesco is native to Eastern Mediterranean but is now consumed all over the world. It boasts similar characteristics to broccoli, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables. Also, it has several other names such as Romanesco cauliflower, Romanesco broccoli, Broccoflower, Broccoli Romanesco, Roman cauliflower, etc.

Romanesco can be eaten raw or cooked in different methods like roasting, steaming, stewing, braising, sautéing, etc. Now, when it comes to the nutrition profile, this veggie contains huge amounts of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin K, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and more. So, without further ado, let's get a look at some of the potential health benefits that it has to offer.

May boost eyesight

Romanesco, as already mentioned, is an excellent source of vitamin A. This vitamin significantly improves the overall functions of your eyes. It promotes vision and also protects the cornea from external damage. In the long run, it may reduce your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.

May aid in digestion

The high amounts of dietary fiber found in romanesco stimulate the release of gastric juices and enzymes in your body. It also helps in the movement of food through the intestine, improving the overall functions of your gastrointestinal tract. It may reduce your risk of gas, constipation, IBS, etc. as well.

May control diabetes

Romanesco's high fiber content also helps regulate the blood sugar levels in your body. It reduces insulin resistance, which further restricts any spike in your blood sugar levels. The vegetable has several different antioxidants that also contribute to the purpose as well. Research has found that daily consumption of romanesco is linked to a lower risk of type-2 diabetes.

May boost the immune system

Romanesco contains vitamin C that boosts white blood cell production in your body. This, in turn, helps improve the functions of your immune system. This vegetable also contains several other antioxidants such as lutein, carotenoids, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, etc. that fight off free radicals, and further reduce your risk of viral and bacterial diseases.

May promote heart functions

Romanesco is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids that are beneficial for your heart. Also, its high fiber content increases HDL cholesterol levels and reduces LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. Moreover, it has potassium that helps regulate blood pressure levels in your body. Hence, it's evident that consuming romanesco daily is associated with better heart health.

It may also improve brain health, aid bone strength, prevent inflammation, promote weight loss, and reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.