9 Surprising Health Benefits of Cabbage

10 years ago | Posted in: Health | 1465 Views

Cabbage is powerful. Ancient healers declared it contained moon power because it grew in the moonlight. Modern nutritional science understands its power comes from its high sulfur and vitamin C content. Either way – it’s worth adding this Powerfood to your weekly diet.

9 Healthy Benefits of Cabbage:

1. Ideal for weight loss!
It has only 33 calories in a cup of cooked cabbage, is low in fat and high in fiber. It is definitely a smart carb.

2. It is a brain food!
It is full of vitamin K and anthocyanins that help with mental function and concentration. These nutrients also prevent nerve damage, improving your defense against Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. Red cabbage has the highest amount of these power nutrients.

All vegetables are good for the skin, but cabbage is one of the best!

3. High in sulfur, the beautifying mineral.
Cabbage helps dry up oily and acne skin. Internally sulfur is essential for keratin, a protein substance necessary for healthy hair, nails, and skin. Check out this Homemade Cabbage Face Mask

4. Helps detoxify the body
.
The high content of vitamin C and sulphur in cabbage removes toxins (free radicals and uric acid); which are the main causes of arthritis, skin diseases, rheumatism and gout.

5. Has well-known cancer preventative 
compounds lupeol, sinigrin and sulforaphane.
They stimulate enzyme activity and inhibit the growth of cancer tumors. A Study on women showed a reduction in breast cancer when cruciferous vegetables like cabbage were added to their diet.

6. Helps keep blood pressure from getting high. 

The high potassium content helps by opening up blood vessels, easing the flow of blood.

7. Cabbage for headaches:

A warm compress made with cabbage leaves can help relieve the pain of a headache. Crush cabbage leaves, place in a cloth, and apply on the forehead. Also, drink raw cabbage juice 1-2 oz. (25-50ml) daily for chronic headaches.

8. Hangovers from heavy drinking were reduced by using cabbage, since Roman times.

9.  Anti-inflammatory and Blood Sugar Regulator. 
The natural red pigments of red cabbage (betalains) is said to lower blood sugar levels and boost insulin production. Of course it has no white sugars and very few simple sugars. Betalains have powerful anti-inflammatory properties just like beets.

Were you born in a cabbage patch?

Cabbage Trivia

  • Some children’s legends say babies come from ‘Cabbage Patches’.
  • Cabbage is considered Russia’s national food. Russians eat about seven times as much cabbage as the average North American.
  • Chinese scrolls from1000 BC declare white cabbage as a cure for baldness in men.
  • “It will make you feel as if you had not eaten and you can drink as much as you like.”  Said Cato, a Roman who lived till he was 80 and ate cabbage before and after meals.
  • Babe Ruth used to wear a cabbage leaf under his hat during games which he would switch out for a fresh leaf halfway through each game.
  • See the world’s biggest cabbage, a prize-winning cabbage more than 125 pounds with leaves reaching more than 5 feet. – Big Cabbage

Cabbage History

  • Cabbage is one of the oldest known vegetables.
  • Cabbage dates back to 4,000 B.C. in Shensi province in China.
  • Around 600 B.C. the Celts brought cabbage to Europe from Asia.
  • In 1536 French navigator Jacques Cartier brought cabbage to the Americas.
  • In Captain Cook’s famous first voyage, (17th century) many of the crew members were saved from gangrene when the ship’s doctor made poultices of cabbage to apply to their wounds.

Cabbage Caution:
Those with thyroid problems should avoid eating large amounts of cabbage. It interfere with the body’s absorption of iodine, needed by the thyroid gland. This applies to all cruciferous vegetables.

There is a cabbage for every flavor pairing and meal.

Types of cabbage:

There are many different types of cabbages with different taste and uses.
They include: green cabbage, Nappa cabbage, red cabbage, savoy cabbage, bok choy and brussel sprouts.

Cabbage Nutrition:

Cabbage is packed with vitamins, minerals, and fibre. It also has phytonutrients known to prevent cancer. For more information click Cabbage Nutrition!

Warm winter crunchy salad with warming Tahini dressing.

Cabbage Recipes :

Cabbage Walnut Salad:  This classic salad is delicious and healthy.

Warm Winter Crunchy Salad:  This has all the grounding warming foods suitable for winter rather than cooling lettuces. I use it in my Winter 2-5-30 Healthy Diet.

Source: Care2

Tags: ,

Share it.

Leave a Reply

Related Posts