 |
|
|
Turnips are root vegetables, about the size of a small apple, with a firm ivory skin that has a blush of purple on the shoulders. They are sturdy growers in cold climates and one of the oldest vegetables known. Early humans wrapped turnips with wild onions and then in leaves and roasted them over the fire.
Scrub turnips with a vegetable brush before cooking. Then trim the leaf end and slice off the root end. Larger turnips should be peeled, but baby turnips—those less than 2 inches (5cm) in diameter—can be cooked without peeling. Thinly sliced turnips have a crisp texture, and can be consumed raw. They make a good addition to platters of raw vegetables and dip, while diced turnip lends a hearty flavor to soups.
To boil
Cut turnips into chunks and boil until they are tender, about 6 to 10 minutes. Whole turnips take about 30 minutes to cook.
To roast
Use either whole, unpeeled baby turnips or larger ones, peeled and cut into wedges. Then toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and place them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast at 375°F (190°C) until they are tender, about 35 to 45 minutes.
To microwave
Place turnip cubes, with a few tablespoons (30 to 45mL) of water or stock in a covered microwave-safe casserole and cook on High for about 3 minutes. Then let stand for about 3 minutes before serving.
Good flavors for seasoning turnips include lemon, nutmeg, garlic, cheeses, thyme, parsley, and chervil.
Turnip, 1 cup (135g) (raw, cubes)
Calories: 35
Protein: 1.17g
Carbohydrate: 8.1g
Total Fat: 0.13g
Fiber: 2.3g
*Excellent source of: Vitamin C (27.3mg)
*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value, based upon United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the USDA Recommended Daily Value. Nutritional information and daily nutritional guidelines may vary in different countries. Please consult the appropriate organization in your country for specific nutritional values and the recommended daily guidelines.
Vitamin C, present in fruits and vegetables, is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. This anti-inflammatory activity may influence the development of asthma symptoms. A large preliminary study has shown that young children with asthma experience significantly less wheezing if they eat a diet high in fruits rich in vitamin C.
Diets high in insoluble fiber (found in some vegetables) are associated with protection against heart disease in both men and women.
Many Americans eat insufficient amounts of foods containing vitamin C; the disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, scurvy, causes easy bruising. While very few people actually have scurvy, even minor deficiencies of vitamin C can increase the incidence of bruising. People who experience easy bruising may want to try eating more fruits and vegetables—common dietary sources of vitamin C.
The strong association between increased intake of beta-carotene from food and a reduced risk of lung cancer does not necessarily mean that supplementation with natural beta-carotene supplements would reduce the risk of lung cancer. Dietary beta-carotene may be a marker for diets high in certain fruits and vegetables that contain other anticancer substances that may be responsible for the protective effects. Until more is known, some doctors advise smokers to avoid all forms of beta-carotene supplementation—even natural beta-carotene.
Foods high in vitamin K such as vegetables typically are associated with low cancer risk. Despite the fact that the anti-vitamin K drug warfarin might reduce the risk of cancer under certain circumstances, no evidence suggests that avoidance of vitamin K (from food or from supplements) would in any way help protect against cancer.
Eating plenty of flavonoid- and vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables helps to support the structure of capillaries.
Some, but not all, studies have reported that eating more foods rich in beta-carotene or vitamin A was associated with a lower risk of cataracts. Synthetic beta-carotene supplementation has not been found to reduce the risk of cataract formation. It remains unclear whether natural beta-carotene from food or supplements would protect the eye or whether beta-carotene in food is merely a marker for other protective factors in fruits and vegetables high in beta-carotene.
A controlled trial showed that eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables containing folic acid, beta-carotene, and vitamin C effectively lowered homocysteine levels. Healthy people were assigned to either a diet containing a pound of fruits and vegetables per day, or to a diet containing 3 1/2 ounces (99g) of fruits and vegetables per day. After four weeks, those eating the higher amount of fruits and vegetables had an 11 percent lower homocysteine level compared to those eating the lower amount of fruits and vegetables.
People who eat plenty of fruits and vegetables high in beta-carotene appear to be at lower risk for macular degeneration than people who do not eat these foods. However, another study found no association between age-related macular degeneration and intake of antioxidants, either from the diet, from supplements, or from both combined. More research is needed to reconcile these differences. In the meantime, beta-carotene-rich vegetables continue to be part of a healthful diet.
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
In one survey, researchers gathered information from nearly 400 people (half with MS) over three years. They found that consumption of vegetable protein, fruit juice, and foods rich in vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, calcium, and potassium correlated with a decreased MS risk.
Health benefits and
concerns for vegetables
Many health benefits and concerns associated with this food are applicable to other
vegetables. Read about health benefits and concerns
for vegetables for a full description.
| MaxLabs Dietary Supplements | net-BUZZ.com Online Shopping |
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. www.healthnotes.com
Learn more about Healthnotes, the company.
Learn more about the authors of Foodnotes.
The information presented in Foodnotes is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2003.