Cabbage is very low in calories, but high in dietary fiber and has a wealth of important vitamins and minerals. Basically, this means that it gives you more value for your money leaving you feeling full and taking care of your nutritional needs, preventing you from binge eating. This can be a great addition to your daily diet if you are trying to lose weight, maintain a diet regimen, or simply improve your intake of calories.
For the course of this article, here are 9 impressive benefits of cabbage
Cabbage is filled with nutrients
Cabbage is a low-calorie vegetable that is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. One cup of Cabbage(89g) contains:
Calories: 22
Protein: 1 gram
Fiber: 2 grams
Vitamin K: 85% of the RDI
Vitamin C: 54% of the RDI
Folate: 10% of the RDI
Manganese: 7% of the RDI
Vitamin B6: 6% of the RDI
Calcium: 4% of the RDI
Potassium: 4% of the RDI
Magnesium: 3% of the RDI
Cabbage also contains small amounts of other micronutrients, including vitamin A, iron and riboflavin.
As you can see in the list above, it is rich in vitamin B6 and folate, both of which are essential for many important processes in the body, including energy metabolism and the normal functioning of the nervous system.
Increases Bone Mineral Density
The high concentrations of certain essential minerals make cabbage one of the best vegetables to eat to ensure healthy bone growth and development. Like other vegetables in the Brassicaceae family, cabbage is rich in calcium, magnesium, manganese, and other important minerals that contribute to bone growth and mineral density that protects against osteoporosis, arthritis, and various other types of inflammation.
Cabbage contains cancer-preventive properties
Cabbage turns out to be an especially good source of sinigrin. Sinigrin is one of cabbage’s sulfur-containing glucosinolates that has received special attention in cancer prevention research. The sinigrin in cabbage can be also converted into allyl-isothiocyanate, or AITC. This isothiocyanate compound has shown unique cancer preventive properties with respect to bladder cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. It’s also worth noting here that a second glucosinolate found in cabbage—glucobrassicin—can be converted into two cancer-protective compounds. These two compounds are indole-3-carbinol (or I3C, an isothiocyanate) and diindolylmethane (or DIM). DIM is an interesting sulfur-containing compound that can be produced in the stomach from I3C if the stomach juices are sufficiently acidic. Like AITC and I3C, DIM has been shown to have cancer-preventive properties for the specific cancer types listed above.
READ ALSO: Vitamins And Minerals
Cabbage Is Packed With Vitamin C
Your body needs vitamin C for many important functions, and it is a potent antioxidant. Red cabbage is particularly high in this nutrient, providing about 85% of the RDI per cup (89 grams).
Vitamin C works to protect the body from damage caused by free radicals, which has been associated with many chronic diseases, including cancer.
Evidence suggests that a diet high in vitamin-C-rich foods is associated with a lower risk of certain cancers.
Helps improve digestion
Cabbage contains insoluble fiber, which keeps the digestive system healthy by providing fuel for friendly bacteria and promoting regular bowel movements.
What’s more, it’s rich in soluble fiber, which has been shown to increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut. This is because fiber is the main fuel source for friendly species like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli.
These bacteria perform important functions like protecting the immune system and producing critical nutrients like vitamins K2 and B12
Protects from Alzheimer’s Disease
One of the most tragic diseases that often strikes as we get older is Alzheimer’s disease. People have been trying to find preventative measures for this disease for many years, and fortunately, red cabbage has been found to be very potent in protecting the cognitive activity of people. The formation of a certain type of plaque is actually what causes a great deal of the memory and cognitive loss in those patients. The anthocyanins in red cabbage specifically reduce the occurrence of this plaque, protecting your brain against this horrible disease.
Treats Ulcers
Red cabbage contains a large amount of a specific amino acid called glutamine. This specific amino acid is very good for reducing the inflammation and pain associated with ulcers in the gastrointestinal system. Red cabbage juice is specifically the best treatment for this condition and has been used as a home remedy from time.
Eye Care
The high levels of vitamin A are not only good for your skin, but also for your eyes. Vitamin A helps keep the eyesight healthy and prevents macular degeneration and cataract formation. [7] It can also be converted into beta-carotene, which is very important for maintaining eye health as you age.
Cardiovascular Support from Cabbage
Recent studies on cabbage intake, especially studies on intake of red cabbage—have looked carefully at the potential for cardiovascular benefits from a cabbage diet. The results have been encouraging. Blood levels of beta-carotene, lutein, and total blood antioxidant capacity have been found to increase along with increasing intake of red cabbage intake
