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Fresh, dark
green-leafy cabbage is incredibly nutritious and low in fat and calories
(Provides just 25 Cal/100 g).
It is storehouse
to many phyto-chemicals like thiocyanates, indole-3-carbinol, lutein,
zeaxanthin, sulforaphane and isothiocyanates. These compounds are powerful
anti-oxidants and known to help protect against breast, colon, and prostate
cancers and help reduce LDL or "bad cholesterol" levels in the blood.
Fresh cabbage is
an excellent source of natural antioxidant, vitamin C. Provides about 61% of
RDA, more than that of in the oranges. Regular consumption of foods rich in
vitamin C helps body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge
harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals.
It is also rich
in many essential vitamins such as pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine
(vitamin B-6) and thiamin (vitamin B-1). These vitamins are essential in the
sense that our body requires them from external sources to replenish.
It also contains
good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, and magnesium.
Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps
controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a
co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is required
for the red blood cell formation.
Cabbage is very
good source of vitamin K, provides about 63% of RDA levels. Vitamin-K has
potential role in bone metabolism by promoting osteotrophic activity in them.
So enough vitamin K in the diet gives you healthy bones. In addition, vitamin-K
also has established role in curing Alzheimer's disease patients by limiting
neuronal damage in their brain.
Cancer Prevention: Cabbage is a member of the Brassica family, also known as
cruciferous vegetables. One of their most important celebrated benefits to
health is their powerful antioxidant quality. This means that cabbage and other
similar vegetables scavenge free radicals from around the body, which can be
very detrimental to overall health and are major contributors to things like
cancer and heart disease.
Cabbage also has a number of anti-cancer
compounds, like lupeol, sinigrin, and sulforaphane, which are known to
stimulate enzyme activity and inhibit the growth of tumours, which can lead to
cancer. One study, performed primarily on Chinese women, showed a significant
reduction in breast cancer when cruciferous vegetables like cabbage were
regularly added to their diet.
Anti-Inflammatory
Properties: Cabbage is known to accumulate a build-up of
cadmium-binding complexes in its leaves, and one of the main components of that
is glutamine. Glutamine is a strong anti-inflammatory agent, so consuming
cabbage can reduce the effects of many type of inflammation, irritation,
allergies, joint pain, fever, and various skin disorders.
Eye Health: Cabbage is a rich source of beta-carotene, so many people,
particularly as they get older, turn to cabbage for its ability to prevent
macular degeneration and generally promote good eye health and the delay of
cataract formation. Beta-carotene has also been positively linked to reduced
chances of prostate cancer, which is an extra bonus on top of the other
anti-carcinogenic effects of cabbage!
Weight Loss: Cabbage is frequently recommended for people who want to lose
weight in a healthy way. Since cabbage is packed with so many beneficial
vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, it is a healthy dietary option for
people to eat a lot of, and it is quite filling, since it has high levels of fibre,
which add bulk to the bowels. However, cabbage is extremely low in calories,
only 33 calories in a cup of cooked cabbage. Therefore, people can go on the
popular “cabbage soup” diet, and eat plenty of food to stay healthy, without
gaining excess weight!
Brain Health: Let’s not forget that cabbage is a very powerful brain food! The
presence of Vitamin K and anthocyanins within cabbage can give a strong boost
to mental function and concentration. These are primarily found in red cabbage,
and vitamin K has been well-researched, although it is often called the
“forgotten vitamin”. Vitamin K is essential in the production of sphingolipids,
the myelin sheath around nerves. This wrapping is what protects nerves from
damage and decay. Therefore, consuming vitamin K can improve your defence
against neural degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.
Furthermore, the anthocyanins in cabbage are
a current area of research, but early indications point to it being a more
powerful source of antioxidants than vitamin-C, and red cabbage has even more
types of anthocyanins than normal cabbage. It also appears that the nutrient
uptake is not limited by anything, and that people can eat as much cabbage as
they want, and continue to accumulate antioxidants, which help fight off
diseases, reduce chances of cancer, improve the nervous system, and increase
brain function.
Bone Health: Cabbage, as well as all cruciferous vegetables, are great
sources of minerals, like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These three
essential minerals are integral in the protection of bones from degradation and
the onset of conditions like osteoporosis and general bone weakening.
Blood Pressure: The presence of potassium in cabbage also makes it a wonderful
way to protect yourself from elevated blood pressure, which increases the risk
of heart attack and stroke. Potassium is a vasodilator, which means that it
opens up the blood vessels and eases the flow of blood, so it isn’t being
forced in a stress-inducing way through constricted arteries and veins.
Overall, cabbage is a great shield against many types of dangerous conditions!
Skin Care and
Premature Aging: As mentioned already, cabbage has
a wealth of different antioxidant sources, including vitamin-C, anthocyanins,
sulphur, and other smaller sources, since it is a cruciferous vegetable.
Antioxidants play a major role in skin health and the general toning and
improvement of the body in response to the aging process. Free radicals can be
an underlying cause of wrinkles, skin discoloration, spots, and many other
conditions. Therefore, the antioxidants you gain by eating cabbage can cause a
turn-around in your aging processes, leaving you feeling and looking healthy
and young!
Muscle Aches: When certain bacteria ferment the sugars in cabbage, such as
during the cooking of sauerkraut, lactic acid is released. It isn’t the easiest
compound to find in a diet, but it has been shown to reduce muscle soreness and
aches, so in some small way, cabbage can help general pain relief and muscle
soreness, depending on how it is prepared.
Detoxification by
cabbage
Cabbage acts as a good detoxifier too,
meaning that it purifies the blood and removes toxins, primarily free radicals
and uric acid which are primary causes of rheumatism, gout, arthritis, renal
calculi, skin diseases, and eczema. This detoxifying effect of cabbage is due
to the high content of vitamin C and sulphur in cabbage.
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