5 Advantages Of Eating Cabbage For Health

Despite being widely available throughout the year, cabbage is one leafy, cruciferous vegetable that is often underestimated and undervalued. If not that, it carries the reputation of being one of the lesser cousins of the much more celebrated lettuce.

Cabbage essentially belongs to the Brassica genus of vegetables, which also includes broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. It comes in all sorts of different shapes and colors, ranging from pale green, blue green, red, and reddish purple to nearly white, with either crinkled or smooth leaves that may be widely spread or tightly bunched together.While the nutritive merits of this oval-shaped ball of leafy goodness seem to be largely lost on the present generation, there was a time when cabbage was treasured by ancient healers who thought it to possess moon power because it grew in the moonlight.

* Waist Friendly

Cabbage is a good vegetable for people who want to lose weight in a healthy way.One cup of shredded cabbage contains just 22 calories. Thus, you can easily supplement your diet with a good serving of cabbage that will keep you feeling full without the added fear of putting on weight. No wonder, then, that this nutritionally robust source of roughage is a weight watcher’s delight.Also, since cabbage is well endowed with insoluble fiber that can’t be broken down in the intestines, it adds bulk to your stools, helping your stomach empty its contents more effectively. Cabbage is also high in water content, which, coupled with its fibrous content, helps you stay satiated for longer and prevents hunger pangs. Plus, it keeps the body hydrated.

* May Improve your Immunity

Cabbage is loaded with vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin that is essential in the maintenance of the proper functioning of the body, including the optimal working of the immune system. Additionally, vitamin C helps the body absorb non-heme iron, the type of iron found in plant foods.What’s more, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. In fact, it has been extensively researched for its potential cancer-fighting qualities.

* Improves Digestion

One way to avoid unwarranted tummy troubles and digestive distress is to up your dietary intake of cabbage.Cabbage is full of gut-friendly insoluble fiber that helps keep the digestive system healthy by adding bulk to your stools and promoting regular bowel movements.Its fibrous goodness coupled with its high water content also helps prevent constipation and keeps your digestive tract in the best of health. On top of that, cabbage’s inherent soluble fiber spurs the growth of gut-friendly bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Such friendly gut flora help protect the immune system and produce critical nutrients, such as vitamins K2 and B12.

* Regulates Blood Sugar

The antioxidant and antihyperglycemic properties of cabbage offer therapeutic benefits for diabetes. It helps lower blood sugar levels and aids in insulin production. Moreover, the fiber content in cabbage helps prevent diabetes as it slows the absorption of sugar.A 2008 study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that diabetic rats that were fed red cabbage extracts for 60 days exhibited reduced blood glucose levels. Plus, the rats had better renal function and weight loss compared with the control group.

* Boosts Heart Health

Including cabbage in your diet can help protect and preserve your cardiovascular functioning.The anthocyanins found in red cabbage are the flavonoids that impart the vegetable its vibrant color. These pigment-inducing compounds have been found to reduce the risk of heart disease.Cabbage may also help suppress inflammation in the body that may lead to cardiovascular disease. The high polyphenol content in cabbage also helps prevent platelet buildup and reduces blood pressure. This, in turn, helps lower your risk of cardiovascular disease.