CABBAGE

CABBAGE

As you unwrap the leaves of the ball-shaped cruciferous vegetable called cabbage, you unwrap one of the superfoods in the plant kingdom. Nutritious, delicious, and healing, cabbage is packed with a variety of phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that keep our bodies healthy and help prevent various cancers and chronic diseases. This went beyond in some cultures where it is even considered as a symbol of prosperity and luck.

Did you know?

There are over 400 varieties of cabbage, exhibiting distinct colors, and numerous nutritional benefits essential to human bodies. Although many know it as a vegetable, few acknowledge it as a leafy vegetable.

A common myth about cabbage

Compared to other vegetables some people believe that cabbage lacks significant benefits to our bodies. Is this true? Below we will explore more about this cruciferous vegetable to evaluate its effectiveness on human beings

Two common cabbage varieties

Red cabbage

Green cabbage

Nutritional benefits of cabbage

1. Weight management.

Cabbage contains more dietary fiber that makes one stay full longer, and fewer calories about 25 calories in 100 grams that may aid in weight loss.

2. Boost the immune system
Vitamin C and folate in cabbage help prevent free radicals that might destroy the cells and protect the body against infection. additionally, this vitamin C content helps in iron absorption (a nutrient that aids in red blood cell formation and oxygen transportation)

3. It helps to lower blood pressure
Cabbage contains potassium that relaxes blood vessels, and together with some fibers and folate content, they help to lower blood pressure and protect the cardiovascular system.

4. Improves digestion

The fiber content helps in digestion by promoting good bacteria in the gut and easing bowel movement since it makes the stools bulky and softer.

5. Prevents or delays the risk of developing chronic diseases

Cabbage is known to have some anti-inflammatory properties due to its antioxidants that help fight inflammation, and phytosterols that prevent the absorption of LDL ( bad cholesterol known to increase some chronic diseases such as cancer, stroke, and heart diseases ) in the intestine and bloodstream.

6. Promotes healthy bones and wound healing
Cabbage is rich in vitamin K, responsible for blood clotting, and crucial in preventing excess bleeding when one is hurt, thus promoting quicker wound healing. It maintains healthy bones by producing a protein that helps calcium bind to bones.

7. Promotes healthy vision
Red Cabbage contains an essential micronutrient (Vitamin A) that protects and improves eye health.

Nutrient comparison between Cabbage and Amaranth

Like other foods and vegetables with great sources of specific nutrients, none is solely sufficient to satisfy all the body's needs. Various kinds collaboratively enhance healthy body functioning.

In that sense, we will explore briefly a comparison between cabbage and amaranth, and how they complement each other.

Similarly, both Cabbage and Amaranth are sources of:

Dietary fiber
Minerals ( Calcium, Magnesium, iron, folate)
Vitamins ( Vitamin A, Vitamin C and K)
Antioxidants
Protein.

All these work together to promote good gut health, digestion, immune system, healthy bones, and are anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting.

However amaranth is relatively higher in some nutrients than cabbage, cabbage is also rich in certain nutrients such as vitamins K and C where this vitamin C helps in the easy absorption of some nutrients in amaranth.

For instance:

Iron in Amaranth vs Vitamin C in cabbage

Amaranth is high in iron, a mineral that helps in red blood cells and oxygen transportation, essential for providing energy for everyday activities, as high vitamin C in cabbage helps in the easy absorption of this iron.

Simple tips for storage without a refrigerator

Do not remove the outer leaves after the harvest. The leaves are the ones that help maintain their moisture and protect the inner ones.
Do not wash the cabbage unless you are about to prepare/ cook it.

If you have a refrigerator,

Place them in a plastic bag in a refrigerator to maintain their humidity. Failure to do so, causes their head to shrink, and sulfur gets released affecting other veggies kept together.

Medicinal use of cabbage

1. Cabbage juice is proven to increase good gut microbiota promoting intestinal health and further enhancing colon repair.

2. Cabbage compress

Have you ever felt joint pain or swelling at home and didn't know what to do? A simple home remedy might assist in easing the pain for a while.

How to prepare a cabbage compress.
- Pick a fresh cabbage, pull off some fresh leaves, wash them in cool water, and dry them.
- Place on the table and gently bruise the leaves to produce some juice. you can use a bottle.
- Then place it on an area with pain
- Lastly, wrap a bandage/film on it.
- N.B: Leave it there for one hour and then remove it. You can do it two to three times a day.

3. In the case of breast engorgement

Follow the same procedure, but while placing it on the breast, do not cover the nipple. Use a cold cabbage compress that was placed in a refrigerator.

Keep it on the breast for approximately 20 minutes or less until it gets warm.

N.B: This simple home remedy can be used, but should not replace the doctor's recommendations. It is best to consult a doctor in case the pain persists or before doing it.

Home Takeaway

Cabbage, like any other vegetable, is naturally nutritious, tasty, and helps protect our bodies from certain diseases. Therefore, we encourage everyone to continue adding a variety of vegetables, including cabbage, to his/ her daily meals, and the body will thank him/her.