Why keep cabbage in your diet? 11 health benefits and recipes.
1. Improved Digestion: Cabbage contains insoluble fiber, which keeps the digestive system healthy by providing fuel for friendly bacteria and promoting regular bowel movements.
2. Weight Loss: cabbage is packed with many beneficial vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, including water and fiber, it is a healthy dietary option for people looking to eat healthier and low in calories, containing only 33 calories in a cup of cooked cabbage. Given these beneficial traits, the fad “cabbage soup” diet is often used for those looking to lose weight fast.
3. Lowers Cholesterol: Cabbage is a good source of soluble fiber and plant sterols. These substances have been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol.
4. Immune Booster: Due to the high vitamin C content of cabbage, it helps in boosting the immune system and fighting off free radicals.
5. Cancer Fighter: cabbage- which contain a relatively high content of glucosinolates, have anti-carcinogenic properties. This means that cabbage and other similar vegetables scavenge free radicals, which can be detrimental to overall health and are major contributors to cancer and heart diseases.
6. Reduces Inflammation: Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage contain many different antioxidants that have been shown to reduce chronic inflammation . Sulforaphane, kaempferol and other antioxidants found in this remarkable group of plants are likely responsible for their anti-inflammatory effect.
