Loving The BITE: Powerhouse of Detoxifying Super Awesomeness

02
May
2013

cauliflower riceWhen you look at food, do you see what it has to offer?  The nutrients, antioxidants, detoxifying components, fibers, energy-producers, and taste?  Or, do you mostly watch out for what you should avoid?  The foods that drag down your energy, promote disease, and harm your cells?  For years, there seems to be a mind-set of what to avoid.

Hopefully, you’re past that, and look for both what to avoid, and what to seek out to promote health.  This week, to encourage healthy cells, tissues, muscles, and systems, so we can ride and feel better, we’ll replace one food (that doesn’t necessarily harm you, but doesn’t offer the best of nutrition), with an absolute nutrition all-star.

Recipe of the Week: Lime Cilantro Cauliflower Rice

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 medium cauliflower head
  • 1 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 Tbsp lime juice (typically juice from 1 lime)
  • 2 Tbsp cilantro
  • salt/pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  1. Cut florets in small pieces and place in food processor. Pulse until the cauliflower is reduced to the size of couscous or rice grains. Depending on the size of your food processor, you may need to do this in multiple stages.
  2. Place in microwavable bowl with glass lid like Pyrex.  Do not close tightly.
  3. Add 1 Tbsp coconut oil.
  4. Microwave 5-6 minutes.  Then, remove from the microwave and allow to steam for 1-3 additional minutes.
  5. Fluff rice, add cilantro, lime juice, and season to salt/pepper, to taste.

Comments:

There’s more to healthy eating than just avoiding what’s “bad” for you.  It seems like the fat-free era of the 80s and 90s instilled a sense of “good dieting” in which you just avoided what you thought was bad.  “I don’t fry things, I don’t eat egg yolks, and of course, I only use fat-free dressing.”  First of all, as most readers know, I don’t subscribe, in any way, to fat-free eating.  Healthy fats are necessary and very important to your health, hormone balance, and obtaining a healthy weight.  In addition, I generally see healthy eating as what healthy whole foods and nutrients you’re actively consuming, not just what you’re avoiding.

Which brings me to our topic today.

Cauliflower rice.  Why in the world would you want to take a head of cauliflower and substitute if for rice?  Good question.

Obviously, rice is not a horrible food for you.  As an “intact” grain, rather than a ground and processed one, it is actually one of the better grain choices (along with oats).  But, it does lack in nutrients and health benefit it offers when compared to a vegetable.  And cauliflower is not just any vegetable, but a powerhouse of detoxifying super awesomeness.

That’s a big claim, I know.  In the past, I’ve called it a Wellness 1-2-3 punch:

Punch #1, Anti-inflammation: Who knew? Cauliflower provides both vitamin K and alpha-linoleic acid (the same omega-3 found in flaxseeds) to combat and prevent inflammation in our bodies.  What’s more, one of its detox components, glucobrassicin, can be converted to another anti-inflammatory compound that works at a genetic level to promote a reduction in bodily inflammation!

Punch #2, Antioxidants:  Next, to combat the free radicals that have built up in our bodies, cauliflower provides 2 excellent antioxidants, vitamin C and manganese.  Additionally, it contains many phytochemicals (remember, phytochemicals fight-o disease and damage) that work against oxidative stress, such as beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, caffeic acid, cinnamic acid, ferulic acid, quercetin, rutin, and kaempferol.

Punch #3, Increased Cellular Detoxification & Gastrointestinal Immune Support: Lastly, cauliflower’s phytochemicals also include a group that works directly on cellular detoxification – both Phase 1 and Phase 2 cellular detox.   These phytochemicals belong to the glucosinolates group, and include glucobrassicin, glucoraphanin, and gluconasturtiian.  Add to it cauliflower’s high content of fiber, which directly promotes gut health and therefore indirectly promotes improved immune function, and you’ve got yourself a serious health promoting vegetable.  If you want to include more detox vegetables along with your cauliflower, add Brussels sprouts, Savoy cabbage, Broccoli, and Kale.  All fine cool-weather foods.

And, taste?  Cauliflower rice is delicious. Imagine my dietitian delight when I look across the table to see my kids eating a stir-fry that includes both cauliflower rice and stir-fried broccoli.  Double the cellular detox. Oh yeah!

So how might this affect your ride?  While cycling absolutely makes us healthier is most every aspect, athletes’ cells deal with a lot of junk, too.  Extra oxygen and nutrient turnover, more free radicals, more cellular damage, likely more time out in the sun, and a lot of physical stress.  You can give yourself a helping hand by pouring on the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and detoxifying nutrients found in many vegetables…like cauliflower (and not like white rice).  Go ahead and eat grains at dinner a couple times per week, but consider subbing in some extra vegetables on the other evenings.  Healthy, detoxifed cells await.

Fuel Your Ride. Nourish Your Body.

 

Enjoy Your Ride
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5 Responses to “ Loving The BITE: Powerhouse of Detoxifying Super Awesomeness ”

  1. Kelli Jennings on May 2, 2013 at 3:39 pm

    I’m totally hooked. I make a batch, with a whole cauliflower head every week and it last us for 3 meals + some to freeze. It makes quite a bit, and you can have as much as you want. I hope you like it!

    • Kelli Jennings on May 2, 2013 at 3:45 pm

      Hi Tim, Thanks for the link. One thing to point out is the “detox diets,” which are touted to detox the colon and often promote fast weight loss via dehydration, extrememly (non-sustainable) low calories, and even diuretics and laxitive use, are not the same as “cellular detox.” Many vegetables, like cauliflower and broccoli, have nutritive compounds in them that support the reduction of oxidative stress and harmful chemical at a cellular level. Since “detox” has become a buzz word in nutrition, it’s often thrown around without enough explanation. This detox is cellular. I don’t generally promote long-term use of a colon detox.

  2. Jan on May 2, 2013 at 8:34 am

    I always think that I know a lot about food and nutrition and then I read one of your articles and learn something new.
    This recipe looks really good. Thanks for the added information.

    • Kelli Jennings on May 2, 2013 at 3:38 pm

      That’s the great part about whole-food nutrition. There’s so much to learn about them! 🙂 You’re very welcome, Jan. I hope you enjoy!

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Sugar Alternatives for Energy and Hydration

Question: I am using the homebrew sugar formulations (sometimes added to green tea).  I am also trying to wean myself off 1/2 dose adrenalean “lip tonic delivery system” (biorhythm brand- caffeine, hoodia g, synephrine, yohimbe) capsule for energy.

My question is other than juice, can you suggest modifications in lieu of table sugar for energy and hydration.

Answer:

Both raw/organic honey or agave can work great in the homebrew (substitute in the same quantities for the sugar, or to taste), but you do have to shake well in order to make sure they don’t settle out.  Have you tried either of these?  Also, make sure to use at least the minimum amount of salt recommended in the homebrew as the temps rise, you need the sodium replacement if you’re sweating.

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Please send us your questions for our Expert Sports Nutritionist, Kelli Jennings to “Ask the Sports Nutritionist“. Kelli Jennings is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for healthy eating, wellness, & sports nutrition. For more information go to www.apexnutritionllc.com.

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