Cauliflower is actually a type of cabbage, but one in which the flowers never get beyond the bud phase. Like the other brassica family members, such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts, it seems to be especially protective against cancer and heart disease

It is packed with vitamins, minerals and powerful anti-carcinogenic compounds including the phytochemical sulforaphane, which not only stimulates the body’s own defences against disease, but also directly blocks tumours. In a recent study, it disrupted the growth of breast cancer cells in later stages. It is thought that brassicas reduce the risk of cancer by protecting DNA from being damaged, and research into the effects of eating cruciferous vegetables found a significant reduction in DNA cell damage in 20 healthy volunteers who had eaten 113g of cruciferous sprouts a day for two weeks.

 

Cauliflower’s main vitamin is C, with 100g – which is about a sixth of a medium-sized cauliflower head. Vitamin C’s primary role is in the production of collagen, which helps to form teeth, bones, skin and cartilage, but it is also a powerful antioxidant. Not only does it play an important role in wound healing, immunity, and the nervous system, it also helps to protect against cancer, as well as shielding ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol from the free radical damage that can lead to cardiovascular disease

 

B vitamins are well represented, with 100g of cauliflower providing excellent quantities of folate (essential for preventing spina bifida in the developing foetus but can also help reduce the risk of heart disease, vitamin B6 (gives you energy by helping the body to produce proteins and to metabolise) and vitamin B5 (essential for the proper function of the adrenal glands).

 

Eating good amounts of cauliflower could be a good way of protecting against inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. It’s an excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are used by the body to produce anti-inflammatory prostaglandins – these can reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks and also protect against arthritis and rheumatism. And remember those huge vitamin C levels? Epidemiological research suggests that diets rich in vitamin C can protect against a type of rheumatoid arthritis, with those who ate the smallest amounts three times more likely to develop it than those who ate the most.

Zinc is an incredibly important mineral for women hoping to conceive, as well as pregnant woman.  It is critical to healthy immune systems, growth and brain function. For example, zinc is needed for normal egg production in the ovaries and for your body to produce and use the reproductive hormones oestrogen and progesterone. In other words the growth and development of the embryo depends on zinc.

Zinc is equally important for men as it is found in high concentrations in sperm and it has been shown that reducing zinc in a man’s diet actually reduces his sperm count.

In pregnancy, zinc is needed for all areas of growth, development of the reproductive system, the nervous system and the brain, bone and teeth formation and is important for the mother’s health. Research has shown that babies born to mothers who supplemented 25 mg of zinc from the nineteenth week of pregnancy had a greater birth weight and head circumference. Zinc is also a valuable mineral in maintaining skin elasticity and preventing stretch marks during pregnancy and is helpful for decreasing food cravings.

 

Zinc deficiency doesn’t just damage your fertility it can also harm memory and attention because adequate levels of zinc are essential for healthy brain function and libido. Even adult men who were tested after lowering their zinc intake level were found to have mood swings, poor memory, poor attention and loss of libido. In addition zinc deficiency can block the absorption of folic acid – another key nutrient for fertility. 

 

In short, zinc deficiency can lead to reduced fertility, loss of libido and an increased risk of miscarriage in women. Hair mineral analysis reveals that a very large percentage of couples who fail to conceive or experience miscarriages are found to be short of zinc. (see the Resources page to see how you can get this test by post)

 

Checking for a zinc deficiency along with other minerals is vital for couples struggling to conceive and well as those who have experienced a miscarriage as this mineral is vital for hundreds of enzyme systems, many of which affect sexual performance and fertility in men and women. In modern day diets, zinc can be low anyway and stress, smoking, pollution and alcohol all deplete body levels of zinc further. And if you have been taking the contraceptive pill for a while, zinc is likely to be deficient.

 

Clearly, it is crucial for both men and women hoping to have a child to consume proper levels of zinc. Symptoms of deficiency include white spots on the nails and a poor sense of taste and smell. Zinc is probably one of the hardest minerals to easily boost into your diet. And while extreme zinc deficiencies are rare in most developed countries, researchers are finding mild zinc deficiencies more and more frequently. Good food sources for zinc include: whole grains, peas, nuts and seeds, in particular pumpkin seeds.  Alcohol also reduces zinc absorption by the body.

 

If you are trying to conceive you should aim to supplement with 30 mg of zinc a day and your partner should also take 30 mg a day. With each ejaculation men lose around 9 per cent of their daily zinc so a good daily intake of zinc is strongly advised.  (I use a supplement called Fertility Plus for Women in the clinic and the man takes Fertility Plus for Men, both contains 30mg of zinc along with other important nutrients, see the Resources page).

A recent study has shown that butyl benzyl phthalate, or BBP, a chemical found in lipstick and nail varnish may interfere with the healthy development of breast tissue. BBP is a man made substance that accumulates in fat tissue and which is part of a group of chemicals that mimic the female hormone oestrogen.

Phthalates are frequently used to make cosmetics glossy or soften plastics and are also found in food packaging, toys, carpets and solvents. Other studies have found a link between them and birth defects, kidney problems and infertility. The concern has been so great that they have been banned in teething rings and babies’ dummies across Europe.

 

Now, according to research from the Fox Chase Cancer Centre in Philadelphia, BBP could increase the risks of breast cancer. Scientists fed rats with BBP which was then absorbed by their offspring via breast milk and the chemical altered the genetic make-up of cells in the young female rat’s mammary glands. The researchers speculated that the same alterations could happen in humans who are over exposed.

 

The Women’s Environmental Network said phthalates were present in four out of five cosmetic products on sale in Britain and is campaigning to see them removed from all cosmetics, including hair spray and moisturiser, because of the possibility that trace elements are being absorbed by the skin.