A head of cauliflower growing in a garden.
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Cauliflower provides essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, but it can also cause stomachaches or abdominal cramps. The culprit behind the stomachaches is cauliflower's fiber content, which becomes most troublesome when you increase your fiber intake too rapidly without giving your body time to adjust. Stomachaches join other side effects of overloading on fiber.
Fiber Basics
Fiber is an essential dietary component found naturally in fruits, whole grains and vegetables such as cauliflower. Fiber helps with digestion and absorption of nutrients and gives you a feeling of fullness, which can result in eating less and losing weight. Fiber can also lower your cholesterol levels, decrease your risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and heart disease. Moderation is key, however, as rapidly increasing your fiber intake can cause side effects.
Side Effects
Stomachaches are just one side effect from eating large amounts of cauliflower or other fiber-rich foods. Other side effects include gas, bloating and diarrhea. The most effective way to sidestep the side effects is to increase your fiber intake slowly. The Family Doctor website suggests increasing your fiber intake with a single change, such as a regular addition of cauliflower or other fibrous food, and then letting your body adjust for up to a week before making a second change. Drinking water also aids in fiber digestion.
Cauliflower Basics
All forms of cauliflower contain high amounts of fiber, whether you eat it cooked, or raw, or go for fresh, or frozen. A 100-gram serving of cauliflower contains 2.3 grams of fiber. That same serving of cauliflower also contains 23 calories, 4.11 grams of total carbohydrates made up of fiber and sugars, 1.84 grams of protein and 0.45 grams of fat.
Considerations
The recommended daily fiber intake varies by age and gender. Women age 50 and below need at least 25 grams of fiber, while women 51 and above need at least 21 grams. Men age 50 and younger require 38 grams of fiber and those 51 and older should consume 30 grams. Beans are at the top of the fiber content list for vegetables, while other good sources of fiber include whole grains, brown rice, artichokes, legumes and sweet potatoes.
When To Call Your Doctor
If your stomach pain does not go away, you should know when to contact your doctor. If your stomach pains are sudden and sharp; accompanied by pain in your chest, neck or shoulder or tenderness in your abdomen, the National Institutes of Health recommends you seek immediate medical care. Other situations that require emergency attention are if you have stomach pain and you are pregnant, undergoing cancer treatments, have difficulty breathing, vomiting or have signs of internal bleeding such as black or tarry stools.
FAQs
Cauliflower provides essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, but it can also cause stomachaches or abdominal cramps.
Why does cauliflower give me a stomach ache? ›
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower contain high levels of insoluble fiber, which can quickly lead to digestive upset, especially when consumed raw. Symptoms can include bloating, gas and cramping.
Are there any negatives to eating cauliflower? ›
Andrews says the biggest pitfall with cauliflower is the possibility of digestive discomfort like bloating, gas or cramping, especially if you are sensitive to other cruciferous vegetables. Cauliflower can also cause issues in people with an allergy to cruciferous vegetables or those vulnerable to kidney stones.
Why can't I digest cauliflower? ›
The reason for this is that cauliflower, as well as other cruciferous veggies, such as kale and broccoli, contains raffinose and other oligosaccharides. These are specific types of sugars that remain undigested until bacteria in the gut ferment them, producing gas, and, in turn, causing bloating and gas.
Does cooked cauliflower cause gas and bloating? ›
Certain vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, and cauliflower are known to cause excess gas. Like beans, these vegetables also contain the complex sugar, raffinose. However, these are very healthy foods, so you may want to talk with your doctor before eliminating them from your diet.
Can you be sensitive to cauliflower? ›
Causes of Cauliflower Allergy: Cauliflower allergies are primarily attributed to proteins present in the vegetable. The main allergenic proteins include cruciferin and napin. These proteins can trigger an immune response in susceptible individuals, leading to allergic symptoms.
What does cauliflower do to your gut? ›
As a cruciferous vegetable, cauliflower is an excellent source of fiber. Fiber helps maintain healthy digestion, reducing your risk of digestive disorders. It also promotes the growth of good bacteria in your gut.
Is cauliflower an IBS trigger? ›
Vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower are high in sulfur and can cause bloating and gas. Try some of these vegetables to see if they are easier to digest: carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, zucchini, green beans, celery and squash.
What is the hardest vegetable to digest? ›
What Are the Hardest Foods to Digest?
- High-fiber and/or raw vegetables, like raw broccoli or cauliflower, artichokes, garlic, and onions14.
- Foods with tough fibers or thick stems, peels, and seeds, such as broccoli rabe, asparagus, and pomegranates.
- Legumes, including beans, chickpeas, and lentils.
- Whole nuts and seeds.
For instance, adding a pinch of ginger or turmeric to your cauliflower recipe can aid in reducing gas and promoting better digestion. Another effective way to combine cauliflower with other foods is by incorporating it into a well-balanced salad.
How to remove gas from the stomach instantly home remedies include:
- Drink a glass of warm water, or tea made with herbs such as peppermint, fennel, carom, cumin, or ginger.
- Move around. ...
- Gently massage your stomach. ...
- Try yoga poses that can relieve gas. ...
- Take activated charcoal or simethicone.
Beans. It's hardly a surprise to see beans atop the list of bloat-causing foods. After all, the legendary powers of this legume have even captured the attention of lyricists: Beans, beans, the musical fruit… Science is behind that tune, explains Czerwony.
How to prevent cauliflower gas? ›
One way to minimize gas from cauliflower is by being mindful of the timing and portion size of your servings. Eating smaller portions and spacing them out throughout the day can allow your digestive system to better handle the fiber and carbohydrates in cauliflower, reducing the potential for excessive gas production.
Is cauliflower an inflammatory food? ›
Cauliflower provides a significant amount of antioxidants, which are beneficial for reducing inflammation and protecting against several chronic diseases.
Can certain vegetables cause stomach pain? ›
Raw may not be the problem—you may have trouble with certain vegetables no matter how you eat them. For example, mushrooms, celery, cauliflower, onions, and snow peas are high-FODMAP foods that can trigger GI symptoms in people with IBS (and even some people who don't have it).
What foods have raffinose? ›
Raffinose. A complex sugar found in beans, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, other vegetables, and whole grains.
