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Low in calories and packed with vital nutrients, cabbage is a versatile food choice. It can be used to prepare a wide variety of meals such as soups, salads, and roasted or gravy-based savoury dishes.
This vegetable can be found in green, white, or purple colours, and belongs to the ‘Brassica’ genus of vegetables, which includes broccoli, cauliflower and kale. Cabbage provides a number of health benefits, from managing weight to reducing blood pressure, and is low on calories.
Here are five benefits of adding cabbage to your diet
1. Packed with nutrients
This low calorie (22 calories per serving) vegetable contains protein, folate, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. It also contains a host of vitamins, such as K, B6, and C. These nutrients help facilitate critical bodily functions such as metabolism and the nervous system. As per research by Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, cabbage is high in fiber and contains powerful antioxidants that help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals.
2. Helps reduce inflammation
Chronic inflammation is associated with many serious diseases such as heart ailments, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Cruciferous (plants of the cabbage family) vegetables like cabbage contain antioxidants, which can help reduce chronic inflammation. Antioxidants such as sulforaphane and kaempferol found in cabbage provide an anti-inflammatory effect, as per research published by the journal Clinical Phytoscience.
3. Aids digestion
This vegetable contains gut-friendly insoluble fiber. As per research published by World Journal of Gastroenterology, fiber helps maintain the health of the digestive system by adding bulk to the stool and promoting regular bowel movements.
4. Weight management
Cabbage is low in calories. In fact, one cup of cooked cabbage has only 34 calories, making it an excellent option for weight management. It also has a high fiber content, which boosts energy levels and creates a sense of fullness in the stomach. As per a study published by the journal Nutrition Reviews, an increase in either soluble or insoluble fiber intake increases post-meal satiety and decreases subsequent hunger.
5. Regulates blood pressure
Cabbage is an excellent source of Potassium, which is an important mineral and electrolyte that promotes bodily functions, including blood pressure levels. A high blood pressure can be a life-threatening condition, if not treated in a timely manner through interventions both dietary and exercise oriented. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure by counteracting the effects of sodium content in the body. In fact, as per American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, eating potassium-rich cabbage is a delicious way to lower high blood pressure and it helps to keep it in a healthy range.
So, ladies, consider incorporating cabbage in your diet, and give a tasty boost to your overall health and wellbeing!
