Turnips are round, hard apple-sized, nutrition-packed veggies that are widely available throughout the fall and winter season.

Touted for its immense health benefits, this bulbous vegetable goes by the scientific name Brassica rapa and is mostly grown worldwide in temperate climates. Often misunderstood as a part of the root family, these veggies are cruciferous in nature and are related to vegetables like brussel, kale, sprouts, and broccoli. These are usually white-fleshed with a purple, red or greenish tinge on the outside.

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The word ‘turnip’ is a complex of two words, where ‘tur’ means turning round and ‘nip’ comes from the Latin word ‘napus’ which means plant and is named so as the vegetable while growing will turn roundish just above the roots. The veggie is truly nutritious from tip to toe as not only can the hard bulbous part be diced and chopped and used in pickles or cuisines but also the sprouts and leaves can be eaten as turnip greens by putting them into broths and stews. Even the small young ones are pretty tasty and can be eaten raw or sliced into salads.

With an abundance of essential nutrients like Vitamins A, C, K, carotenoids, omega-3 acids, xanthine, lutein and minerals like iron, copper, potassium, calcium and manganese and a host of phytonutrients, turnips are extremely beneficial for the healthy functioning of the body as it helps improve blood circulation, regulate metabolism, aid in digestion and prevents microbial infections. Being a low-calorie vegetable, turnips have also paved its way in diabetic-friendly diets.

Without further ado, lets find out how this purple veggie brings health and wellness.