By MACROS | Published on February 20, 2017
This often-overlooked root vegetable has been nourishing hard-working muscles since the times of the ancient Greeks. Include it on your dinner table today for unyielding nutrition and energy.
Heart and prostate health
The turnip’s leaves outshine the bulb because 100g will give you 220% of your required daily allowance of vitamin A and 662% of your required intake of vitamin K. The latter is excellent at helping you fend off heart disease, according to a study in the Journal of Nutrition.
It’s also reported to increase your bone strength and reduce your risk of prostate cancer. So if it’s a choice between the greens or the bulbs, go green.
Fight off flu
If the Western version of the turnip doesn’t appeal to your taste buds then try the pickled Japanese version called suguki, which is a form of pickled turnip.
Research in Letters in Applied Microbiology found in animal tests that it has a bacteria that can prevent the flu and the scientists are hopeful it could be protective against other viral infections. If your co-workers or family are battling the winter sniffles then head to a Japanese restaurant to shore up your defenses.
Breathe easy
Just 100g of turnips will give you 35% of your daily vitamin C needs. This is important because research in the British Medical Journal found this vitamin can substantially reduce the bronchoconstriction (exercise-induced asthma) caused by exercise. If you’re looking for a carb source before a big race then turnips are the smart choice.
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Ear protection
If the volume on your TV has been steadily creeping up, then turnips could be part of the remedy. A study at the American Academy of Otolaryngology found that antioxidant vitamins won’t prevent you from losing your hearing, but high folate intake from foods like spinach and turnip greens can decrease your risk by as much as 20%.
Turnip greens mini-recipe
Throw brown onions, diced bacon and a clove of garlic into a skillet, then add the diced greens into the pan and cook until they’re reduced. Sprinkle with a teaspoon of sugar and a few chili flakes and you’ve got a tasty dish that’s ready in three minutes.
