Veggies: The raw deal

8. Aubergine

What's available: aubergines are available in different colours, shapes and sizes. Take your pick from deep purple cylindrical ones, small thin, paler purple ones streaked with creamy colour, to the small purple, yellow and green round varieties used in Asian curries.

Healthy highlights: aubergines contain anthocyanins, particularly nasuin, which are potent antioxidants. Nasuin extracted from aubergine skin has been shown in laboratory conditions to block the formation of free radicals. Free radicals are known to cause damage to cell membranes and cause oxidation of 'bad' LDL cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart disease and strokes. In traditional medicine, aubergine has been used to treat cancer and measles.

Nutritional content: aubergines are a good source of folate, potassium and fibre.

What's available: Cabbage comes in numerous varieties, for example, winter cabbage such as red, white and Savoy; pointed cabbage, which tends to be dense and have firm leaves, whilst Chinese cabbage is leafier and less dense.

Healthy highlights: cabbage contains phytochemicals called indoles. Indoles have been shown to have anti-cancer properties. Research in animals and under laboratory conditions suggests that indoles may help fight cancer by stimulating the production of enzymes, which form part of the body's detoxifying systems.

Nutritional content: rich in fibre, vitamin C, beta carotene.

What's available: there are two types of broccoli that you can buy - calabrese, which has dense blue heads, and sprouting broccoli, which is leafier with smaller, looser purple heads. Calabrese is available all year round, whilst UK-grown sprouting broccoli is available from February to May.

Healthy highlights: broccoli contains the phytochemical sulphoraphane. Research has suggested that sulphoraphane has the ability to block cancer-causing agents by stimulating the production of enzymes which form part of the body's detoxifying system. Studies have shown that diets rich in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, are linked with a reduced risk of bowel, stomach, breast, lung and kidney cancer.

Nutritional content: broccoli is an excellent source of vitamin C, calcium, folate, selenium and fibre.