Besides being a healthy alternative to potatoes, turnips are also a delicious side dish in their own right. Fries made from turnips are delicious and should not be missed.
Plus cool!
It is advisable to eat the entire turnip, including the crunchy root and the greens made up of the stems and leaves. “To know more about such informative food digests, click here!
A Look at the Health Benefits of Turnips
Though we might be tempted to refer to turnips as “faux-taters,” they truly stand on their own as fantastic vegetables. Turnips, in particular, have a very high nutritional value: Cubed cooked turnips have only 34 calories and 3 grams of fiber per cup, while the same volume of potatoes has 200 calories and 2 grams of fiber.
Turnip greens, stems, and all are extremely low in calories (only 29 per cup) and high in fiber (5 grams per cup).
Krista Maguire, R.D., C.S.S.D., Nutrition Manager at Beachbody, states that “one medium turnip is a good source of vitamin C” and contains potassium, phosphate, calcium, and folate.
About those carbs: “Various regions of the turnip have different levels of carbs,” explains Jordan. The carbohydrate content and effect on blood sugar from greens is minimal. “Turnips are lower in carbs than other related veggies like potatoes and parsnips,” she says, “since the root is more carb-dense than the rest of the vegetable.”
While there are just 8 g of carbs in a cup of cooked turnips and 33 g in a cup of cooked potatoes.
The Positive Effects of Turnips on Your Body
Turnips are a great addition to a healthy diet and can help you ace your aerobic workout.
Like other cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts, turnips are a root vegetable in the Brassicaceae family, which means they may offer some of the same health advantages. “Vitamin C can aid in the absorption of non-heme iron if you eat turnips alongside other plant-based meals that are rich in iron.”
Jordan adds that vitamin C also aids in collagen production, essential for beautiful skin and strong hair.
Since they are rich in fiber, turnips are a great complement to any diet that promotes weight loss or general health, as stated by Jordan. Overeating between meals is less likely when you consume more fiber because you feel satiated for longer. Maintaining regular bowel movements and normal blood sugar levels are two additional benefits.
