What are the Health Benefits of Cabbage?

Cabbage is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. It’s too bad that a lot of people don’t like to eat it except in coleslaw. After reading this article, you just might want to eat it several times a week from now on.

The health history of cabbage

Cabbage has a long history of fighting disease because of its medicinal properties. The ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans ate it regularly since it was believed to contain healing properties.

The health benefits of cabbage

Men can lower their risk of prostate cancer quite a bit if they eat plenty of green vegetables, such as cabbage, according to information found on the American Cancer Society website.

An article in the WebMD news archive affirms you can fight cancer by eating vegetables such as cabbage. According to researchers, women who eat four servings of cabbage a week are less likely to develop breast cancer.

The protective ingredients in cabbage are called phytonutrients. They protect the body from free radicals that can damage cell membranes.

Cabbage also contains sulforaphane, an antioxidant and detoxification increaser. Red cabbage is actually better for you than green cabbage since it contains more vitamin C and more phytonutrients than green cabbage does. The red coloring is an antioxidant that can help protect brain cells.

Cabbage also contains a lot of iron and sulfur and is rich in vitamin C which is another cell-protecting antioxidant. It also contains vitamin A for protecting your eyes and skin. Vitamin E and vitamin B are also found in cabbage.

Why you should eat cabbage regularly

Cabbage belongs to the cruciferae family of vegetables. Collards, brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale also belong to this family of vegetables. Research has shown that people who eat a lot of cruciferous vegetables are less likely to develop lung, bladder, prostate and colorectal cancers.

With one serving equaling one cup, if you eat just 3 to 5 servings of cruciferous vegetables a week – you will probably lower your risk of developing cancer.

Why nutritionists love cabbage

Nutritionists love cabbage for good reason. Although this vegetable is not expensive, it is full of protective vitamins and is very low in calories – only around fifteen to twenty-two calories per cup (depending on what kind of cabbage you eat).

The lowly cabbage can help inhibit infections and ulcers and helps the body to produce more antibiotics. The high levels of sulfur and iron in it are minerals that help cleanse the digestive system.

Different types of cabbage

There are a number of different types of cabbage, such as green cabbage, savoy cabbage, bok choy, napa cabbage and red cabbage. You don’t have to keep eating the same old boring green cabbage because you have a number of choices.

What’s the healthiest way to serve cabbage?

The healthiest cabbage is grown organically since it has higher phytonutrients levels in it. While it’s best to eat cabbage raw, you can also lightly cook it by steaming and quick stir-fry methods to preserve as many vitamins and minerals as possible.

Conclusion

Cabbage is one of the healthiest foods you can eat, so do yourself a favor and eat lots of it.