Cabbage is helpful in treating various health diseases, such as constipation, headaches, stomach ulcers, obesity, and rheumatism. It is also good for the mind and can treat neural disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. Cabbage is a good source of potassium, dietary fiber, manganese, Vitamin K, C, B1 and B6, copper, and folate. Additionally, it also contains phosphorus, choline, calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium, protein, vitamin B2, and niacin.
CABBAGE: HEALTH BENEFITS
Weight Loss
Eating cabbage is one of the best things to do when you want to reduce weight in a healthy way. It’s especially helpful if you are eating too much, but you don’t want to gain weight. It is loaded with many beneficial minerals, vitamins, and other healthy nutrients. However, cabbage only contains few calories. Every serving of cabbage (cooked) only contains 33 calories. Therefore, people who regularly eat cabbage will stay healthy and can eat plenty of food without gaining weight.
Inhibits Cancer
Cabbage provides powerful and quality antioxidants. This means it can reduce free radicals found in our bodies. These radicals are very harmful to our health and can cause heart disease and cancer.
Cabbage contains several anti-cancer substances, like sulforaphane, sinigrin, and lupeol. These compounds can inhibit tumor growth and stimulate enzyme movement.
Increases Brain Health
As previously mentioned, cabbage is good for the brain. The anthocyanin and vitamin K found in cabbage can boost concentration and mental function.
Sometimes, vitamin K is called the “forgotten vitamin,” but it plays a very important role in sphingolipids production. Sphingolipids are the myelin sheath found around our nerves. It can also protect our nerves from decay and damage. Therefore, vitamin K can fight Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and neural degeneration.
Additionally, red cabbage contains more kinds of anthocyanins compared to normal cabbage. Ultimately, the more cabbage you eat, the more antioxidants you get. The more antioxidants you have, the better you can fight diseases, improve the nervous system, enhance your brain function, and reduce your risk of developing cancer.
Improves Eye Sight
Cabbage is rich in beta-carotene, which is why people who are getting older should eat plenty of cabbage. It is helpful in maintaining good eyesight, inhibits macular degeneration, and delays cataract formation. The beta-carotene also reduces the risk of suffering from prostate cancer.
Skin Care
Cabbage is a good source of antioxidants including anthocyanins, vitamin C, and sulfur, as mentioned earlier. Antioxidants play an important role in our skin health. Because of free radicals, we might suffer from spots, skin discoloration, wrinkles, and other skin conditions. Thankfully, eating cabbage can combat thpse and may help us look and feel young and healthy.
Stronger Bones
Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable that is rich in minerals, like magnesium, potassium, and calcium. These minerals are essential in protecting our bones from different conditions, like bone weakening and osteoporosis.
Lessens Muscle Pains
When bacteria ferments, the sugar found in cabbage, lactic acid, is produced. Lactic acid can reduce muscle pain and soreness. It can be used as a pain reliever, with the effectiveness depending on how the cabbage is prepared.
Controls Blood Pressure
Cabbage is a good source of potassium which acts as a well-known vasodilator. In other words, it can help blood to flow more smoothly in the veins and arteries.
Cabbage is a great way to detoxify because it removes toxins and cleanses the blood. Mostly, it helps remove uric acids and free radicals that cause arthritis, skin diseases, renal calculi, gout, eczema, and rheumatism. Cabbage has the ability to cleanse the body because of its high content of sulfur and vitamin C.
Anti-Inflammatory Agent
Cabbage leaves build up cadmium-binding compounds, with glutamine being the most common. Glutamine is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. As such, eating cabbage can lessen the effects of irritation, allergies, inflammation, fevers, and joint pain.
Other Health Benefits
Cabbage is a good source of iodine. Iodine helps the nervous system and brain to maintain proper function. In addition, it also maintains the condition of the endocrine system. Other nutrients that are present in cabbage, like vitamin E, will keep the eyes, hair, and skin healthy. The magnesium, potassium, and calcium are very beneficial as well. Cabbage can also aid in treating duodenal ulcers, peptic, leg ulcers, and varicose veins.
Final Thoughts
Adding cabbage to your everyday diet will make you stronger and help you to live a longer life. When you cook cabbage, many of its nutrients are lost and the high amounts of vitamin C (along with a few other nutrients) become harder for the body to absorb. Because of this, it may be more beneficial to eat raw cabbage, as opposed to cooked. However, consuming cabbage in any form is a sure way to improve your overall health.
