Your mom always told you that green vegetables
were good for you. You may have thought it was just a ploy to get you to eat your food, but there is evidence that she was right. Keep reading to find out the health benefits
of an old favorite – cabbage.
Sure it’s green and it smells when you cook it,
but that doesn't mean that it isn't good to you or good for you. Like other veggies in its class (broccoli for one), there is a hint of the sulfur - but don’t mind that.
Cabbage is a product of the Asian continent.
European travelers brought it out from
there and it has been used ever since. As with other plants and vegetables, it was revered for its medicinal qualities, like drinking the juice to heal stomach ulcers.
You can drink cabbage juice or cabbage water, but you will get health
benefits by just eating it. Cabbage is usually eaten boiled,
either whole or chopped up.
In coleslaw, it is sliced and raw. Eating it boiled helps you to
avoid added sugars and fat
that can be found in coleslaw dressings.
If you are looking for vitamin C, you can count on cabbage.
We eat fruits as the primary
source of this vitamin but there is a lot found in this vegetable. Other nutrients include manganese, magnesium, calcium and protein.
Cabbage has been shown to reduce the risk of certain
cancers when eaten regularly.
This is also true of other cruciferous veggies like broccoli.
Phytochemical compounds in
cabbage can protect against prostate, bladder and gastrointestinal cancers.
It can also lower
the risk of breast cancer. For those with cancer, it is believed to slow the growth
of metastatic tumors, especially in the case of breast cancer.
Some cancers are thought to be aided by the presence of free radicals in the body.
Nutrients found in cabbage can increase the antioxidant defenses in the
body to neutralize free radicals.
They also help the body to remove the deadly toxins that can lead to
aging and cellular breakdown.
Ever had an ulcer? They are not fun and can be life-threatening
under certain circumstances.
An amino acid found in cabbage, glutamine, has been shown to fight back
against ulcers - even being used in their treatment. Patients are
given cabbage juice as a remedy.
This same amino acid also shows immune system properties. It helps reduce inflammation in the body and also helps with secretion of human growth hormone.
Are you looking for a way to get your vegetables and health benefits too?
Your mom was right. Eat your cabbage.