One of the most popular vegetables in many countries is cabbage. The beneficial properties of it have long been studied, and it is recognized as a healthy dietary product. Cabbage contains many useful trace elements and fiber. From it you can cook a variety of delicious and healthy dishes. In addition to the well-known white cabbage, you can use other types of cabbage for food, which are no less useful and tasty.
general characteristics
Cabbage is a plant from the cruciferous family. It is very common in all countries where it is grown on large areas and eaten. Such popularity is explained not only by its taste. The composition of cabbage is very rich, and it is good for health. It contains potassium, phosphorus, boron, magnesium, selenium, sulfur, as well as all the necessary trace elements for health.
The most popular and common is white cabbage. It is well stored and unpretentious when grown. But other varieties of this vegetable are no less useful. Cabbage is rich in fiber, ascorbic acid, volatile, folic acid, fructose. In addition, it contains many useful vitamins in cabbage. It is especially appreciated for a large amount of ascorbic acid. Moreover, this vitamin is contained in it in such a form that it does not collapse under the influence of heat treatment or gastric juice. In addition, cabbage contains biotin, rutin, tocophelol, niacin, choline and vitamin K.
Useful properties of cabbage for the human body
This vegetable is simply indispensable in nutrition. Indeed, a large number of vitamins and minerals, the ability to eat it in any form, as well as the ability to maintain nutritional properties until spring, make cabbage one of the most important vegetables. It is available year-round, has excellent taste. The benefits and harms of cabbage have long been studied; its healing qualities make it possible to use it as part of many folk recipes.
But even with the usual use of this vegetable in food, a beneficial effect on the body is manifested. Cabbage has the following properties:
- protects against cancer;
- improves metabolic processes and blood formation;
- helps to remove excess fluid from the body;
- improves fat metabolism, lowers cholesterol;
- normalizes the acidity of gastric juice, eliminates fermentation in the intestine ;;
- improves intestinal microflora, destroys pathogenic bacteria;
- strengthens the immune system;
- improves appetite and digestion;
- treats constipation, cleanses the intestines;
- has a mild diuretic effect;
- retains youth longer.
When is it good to eat cabbage?
Most people regularly eat this vegetable. But if you know how cabbage affects the human body, it becomes clear that in some cases it must be consumed necessarily. Dietary varieties, as well as cabbage juice, are especially useful. They are effective for constipation, liver problems, can be used to normalize weight and improve fat metabolism. Cabbage is useful for diabetes and obesity, anemia and anemia. This vegetable can be used to prevent colds, heart attack or stroke.
Especially useful cabbage in any form during pregnancy. It prevents constipation and swelling, dilutes the blood and provides the child with the necessary amount of folic acid. In addition, it strengthens the immune system.
Cabbage juice is used medicinally for peptic ulcer or gastritis. It stimulates the outflow of bile and helps the liver more actively remove cholesterol and toxins from the body, and also improves bowel function. It should be drunk half a glass half an hour before meals. When rinsing the throat, it reduces dry cough. With external use, cabbage juice removes warts, cleanses the skin, brightens age spots, and heals boils. And compresses from fresh leaves with honey help relieve inflammation, swelling and joint pain, and reduce dry cough.
When can it be harmful
But cabbage is not always useful. There are still contraindications to its use. White cabbage can be especially harmful due to the large amount of fiber. This can cause diarrhea, flatulence, bloating, and abdominal pain. It is not recommended to use cabbage for any diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the acute stage, for pancreatitis, enterocolitis, as well as for violations of the thyroid gland.
It is especially harmful to consume cabbage with hyperacid gastritis and increased gas formation. Due to the ability of this vegetable to cause flatulence, it is not recommended for women to eat it during breastfeeding, as a child may experience flatulence. In addition, you can not eat raw cabbage every day. This can cause bloating, the appearance of ulcers on the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.
Which cabbage is healthier
This vegetable is useful in all forms. But the most popular white cabbage in comparison with other species is least useful, because it contains few trace elements. By its composition and nutritional qualities, the properties of broccoli are most valued. Useful is also color and Savoy. And Beijing and Brussels are excellent dietary products, easily digestible and nutritious.
Sauerkraut is considered especially useful. Due to the content of a large amount of vitamin C, it has general strengthening properties, improves metabolic processes, and contributes to weight loss. Sauerkraut plays the role of a kind of "orderly" of the intestine, since lactic and acetic acids in its composition have an antibacterial effect.
White cabbage
The homeland of this variety of cabbage is North Africa and the Mediterranean. Eat this vegetable in food since ancient times. In our country, white cabbage has been known since the 8th century. After that, she firmly entered the diet and became the most popular vegetable. The benefits and harms of cabbage have long been studied. It is widely used in various dishes.
White cabbage has a lot of vitamins, minerals and water. It is rich in potassium, phosphorus, calcium. But it is especially appreciated for its high fiber content. In addition, it has a unique and irreplaceable vitamin U, which stimulates the regeneration of the mucosa of the digestive tract. And tartronic acid promotes weight loss.
The usefulness of white cabbage for the human body has been known for a long time. In folk medicine, there are many recipes using its juice or leaves. They are applied to the joints to relieve inflammation and pain. Juice treats many diseases of the digestive tract, skin pathologies. It has beneficial effects on the hair, preventing hair loss, and also helps to maintain youthful skin.
Purple cabbage
This is one of the subspecies of white cabbage. Its composition is slightly different, since the substance is anthocyanin, which gives it a peculiar color. Because of this, it is called red, blue or purple. Phytoncides, enzymes, calcium and phosphorus salts, selenium, zinc and magnesium are found in large quantities in this cabbage. The substance ascorbigen is also present in its composition.
Not everyone knows how purple cabbage is useful for the human body. But it is very popular because of its excellent taste, unusual color and ability to maintain value until spring. And at the same time, this type of cabbage is very useful. It strengthens and tones the walls of blood vessels, destroys pathogenic bacteria, improves kidney and thyroid function, and reduces pressure. In addition, this vegetable has antitumor properties.
Beijing
This type of cabbage began to be grown in China in the 5th century. It relates more likely to salad plants due to its particularly delicate leaves and a small amount of fiber. Beijing cabbage can be consumed in any form, but it is most useful in salads. It has a lot of nutrients, especially ascorbic acid. Thanks to this, Beijing cabbage cleanses the body of viruses and germs, increases resistance to various diseases. In addition, it slows down aging and has antioxidant properties. Compared to white cabbage, Beijing contains more protein, mineral salts, amino acids and vitamins. Moreover, they are well preserved until the end of winter.
Broccoli
This type of cabbage spread from the Mediterranean. But due to its unpretentiousness and excellent taste, broccoli has become popular all over the world. In addition, it is very useful and suitable for diet food. Vitamins in broccoli cabbage are found even in larger quantities than in other varieties. Especially a lot of folic acid, carotene, copper, chromium, iodine. There are proteins in broccoli that are close to animal proteins, so it is indispensable for vegetarians.
In addition, the beneficial properties of broccoli are explained by the presence in its composition of phytosterols, fatty acids, B vitamins, fiber. Thanks to this, it helps in weight loss, prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases, reduces cholesterol and protects the nervous system. In addition, broccoli removes heavy metals from the body, protects against radiation and prevents the development of cancerous tumors.
Color
This is also a fairly popular type of cabbage. His homeland is Syria, but now cauliflower is distributed throughout the world. This is a dietary vegetable, but it does not have a lot of fiber. But it contains many vitamins, minerals, protein, essential amino acids. Therefore, cauliflower is indispensable for a healthy diet.
It is used in baby food, as well as for the preparation of various dishes. Cauliflower can be consumed both in raw and in heat-treated form, and it retains its value in soups, mashed potatoes or casseroles. It boils quickly and is very easy to digest. But it is not recommended to use cauliflower in the presence of kidney stones.
Brussels
This is a rather unusual variety of cabbage, distributed mainly in Holland and England. Brussels sprouts is a long stalk, on which there are many small heads of cabbage. Now this cabbage has become quite popular, the useful properties of which are explained by the presence of a large amount of vitamin C and other trace elements necessary for health. It contains a lot of protein and ascorbic acid. And the presence of folic acid makes it indispensable in the diet of pregnant women. It lowers cholesterol, helps maintain visual acuity and protects against colds. But with improper preparation, Brussels sprouts can be bitter, so it is recommended to add lemon juice or salt to the boiling water.
Savoy
This type of cabbage was named after the place where it was bred - the county of Savoy. Its difference from the usual white one is that the upper leaves are darker, curly and tender. Savoy cabbage contains a lot more vitamins C, E, A and trace elements. But it has less fiber, so it is suitable for dietary nutrition. A large amount of protein helps strengthen hair, lower cholesterol. Savoy cabbage strengthens teeth and nails, soothes, stimulates the formation of hemoglobin, slows down aging.
Her head is looser, and the leaves are thin and delicate. Therefore, it is more suitable for cooking salads, but unsuitable for pickling. Its juice is used as a remedy for lowering blood sugar, lowering blood pressure and for colds.
How to cook
Cabbage can be eaten raw, as well as in many dishes. It is boiled, stewed, fried, baked. Braised cabbage is especially popular. This is a tasty and nutritious dish that contains very few calories. It is used as a side dish for meat dishes or as a filling for pies.
Sauerkraut is very useful, which is a record holder for vitamin C. But this raw vegetable is especially valuable. There are various recipes from fresh cabbage, which allow you to fully use its beneficial properties. It is recommended that they use Beijing, Savoy, Brussels sprouts and broccoli. White cabbage leaves are coarser. They contain a lot of fiber, so they can trigger flatulence. But any recipes from fresh cabbage can be used in diet food, as well as in winter to make up for the lack of vitamins:
- Broccoli salad is very tasty. It is necessary to boil the cabbage for a couple for 2 minutes, disassemble into inflorescences. Cut celery stalks, boiled chicken breast and bell peppers. Mix everything, pouring it with natural yogurt, you can add a little lemon juice. Garnish with cheese cubes.
- For salad, Chinese cabbage is great. It can be mixed with apples, garlic. Add spices, vegetable oil and lemon juice. It will turn out an excellent diet dish.
- You can cook a more satisfying salad. To do this, you need Chinese cabbage, boiled eggs, fresh cucumbers and green peas. Dressed with sour cream salad.
- Excellent vitamin salads are obtained from savoy cabbage. For example, in autumn you can mix it with tomatoes, fresh cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots. Add greens and season with sour cream.
- You can also make salads from white cabbage. But it must first be washed with hands with salt, so that it becomes softer. An excellent winter salad is obtained with canned corn, pickles, garlic and crackers. You must also add green onions and spices. Dressed with mayonnaise salad.