7 Unbelievable Health Benefits of Cabbage

Sharon Moore January 29, 2014

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Do you love cabbage? Well, you should. This cruciferous vegetable is touted for its amazing health benefits, and is considered a superfood by many experts. Whilst red cabbage has the highest levels of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, the green and Savoy varieties are also jam-packed with extraordinary benefits.

So what makes cabbage a superfood?

It’s so good for the heart.

When it comes to cholesterol reduction, you can count on cabbage. The fibre and other nutrients in cabbage bind with bile acids in the intestine, in such a way that they just stay in the intestine until they are flushed out of the body through bowel movement, rather than getting absorbed along with the fat they have emulsified.  Because of this, the liver has to replace lost bile acids by drawing upon existing supply of cholesterol. As a result, the body’s cholesterol level goes down. Studies suggest that cabbage can bind 17% as many bile acids as what the cholesterol-lowering drug cholestyramine can. Meanwhile, the potassium in cabbage is a good way to keep your blood pressure normal, lowering your risk of heart attack and stroke.

It’s good for your waistline.

Cabbage is an excellent food option for those looking to lose weight as it has very low calorie content and is very high in fibre. For a 30-calorie cup of cabbage, you will feel full for a longer period. But going for crash diets like ‘cabbage soup diet’ may not be a good idea as your body still needs nutrients from other food sources. Incorporating cabbage in well-balanced diet is the best thing to do.

Cabbage has cancer-fighting nutrients.

Most varieties of cabbage are a good source of sinigrin – a natural substance that has received special attention in cancer prevention research.  Sinigrin can be converted into a compound called allyl-isothiocyanate or AITC which has been shown to possess preventive properties against bladder cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. Furthermore, cabbage has high antioxidant levels which sweep away free radicals that cause cell damage, and may ultimately lead to cancer.

It boosts eye health.

Many people turn to cabbage for its ability to prevent macular degeneration which is very common among older adults. Like carrots, cabbage is rich in beta-carotene which boosts eye health and slows down the development of cataracts.

It promotes young-looking skin.

As mentioned earlier, cabbage contains large amounts of antioxidants – natural compounds (including vitamin C, vitamin E, anthocyanins, sulphur) that slow down the process of ageing and help keep your skin healthy and young-looking.  As you may have known, free radicals are often the underlying cause of wrinkles, spots, discolorations and other conditions. And because of its high antioxidant content, cabbage acts as a good detoxifier too – helping purify the blood and remove disease-causing toxins. So you look and feel young in and out!

Cabbage aids digestion.

Like most cruciferous vegetables, cabbage has high fibre content, making it a good digestion aid. Fibre provides your body with the necessary roughage to effectively eliminate waste through bowel movement. By eating cabbage regularly, you can say goodbye to constipation and other digestive problems.

Cabbage is a brain food.

Yes, you read it right. Brain is a vital body organ and you want to keep it healthy. And one way to boost your brain health is by consuming cabbage, along with other nutritionally-dense foods. Red cabbage, in particular, has high levels of vitamin K which is needed in the production of sphingolipids – the myelin sheath around the nerves.  Therefore, consuming cabbage can increase your brain’s defence system against neural degeneration, and other brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.

Cooking cabbage is how most people add it to their diet. But heat can actually cause many nutrients from cabbage to disappear, especially vitamin C. The changes in the composition of cabbage after cooking may also prevent the body from absorbing the other nutrients. If you’re looking to add cabbage in your diet, consider consuming it raw. Anyway, it doesn’t have bitter taste or any unwanted taste. Or, you may simply steam it rather than microwaving or cooking it over high fire.