Turnips

Turnip

Summer is over and hopefully the cooler weather is on its way as turnips is good warming tuber vegetable that is mostly associated with cooler days.

Turnips are similar to parsnips and have similar nutritional properties. Have a look at my previous food of the week Parsnip http://www.balancingnutrition.com/?p=854. But they are a member of the mustard family, so are a good source of sulfur, which also means they are a good detoxifier.

Turnip greens are edible and are rich in vitamins A and C and folic acid. Turnips have some slightly different phytonutrients to parsnips and include lycopene, beta carotene, campesterol and allontonin.

Turnips can be helpful in improving circulation, promoting sweating, resolving mucous, relieving coughs and improves appetite. They can help indigestion, diabetes, jaundice, asthma and sinus problems. Raw sliced turnip can help disperse lung congestion!

Turnips are great in stews/casseroles, soups, raw in salads for some extra bite, pureed with potato in a mash or try roasting them.