Health Benefits of CabbageThe health benefits of cabbage are in the high amounts of vitamin C, beta carotene, and fiber it provides. Belonging to the same cruciferous family as broccoli, cauliflower, and radish, cabbage is one of the oldest cultivated vegetables, and has been popular for its taste as well as medicinal properties. The ancient Romans used cabbage to treat bruises and wounds and colic, while others used it to treat poisoning, dog bites. Cabbage was also used in acne treatment.Cabbage comes in hundreds of varieties (over 400), and in various shades of green, purple, and red. The most popular varieties in the US are the green cabbage and bok choy, while in India, it's the green one. While each variety offers slightly different levels of nutrients, they all provide a high level of vitamin C and phytonutrients. Cabbage NutritionQuick FactsAs mentioned, cabbage is rich in vitamin C, an important antioxidant that helps fight various bacterial and viral infections such as the common cold, ear infections, and bronchitis. It also supports the immune system and plays a critical role in preventing osteoporosis by reducing menopausal bone-loss. Red cabbage has more calcium and less of the other minerals than green or white cabbage. Cabbage is also high in potassium which helps control high blood pressure. Cabbage contains significant amounts of sulphur, histidine, chlorine, phosphorus, and sodium. Sulphur and histidine can strengthen the immune system and reduce the growth of tumors. Cabbage is extremely low in calories (1 cup has 39 calories), and as such often used in weight-loss treatments, such as the cabbage-soup diet. This diet is designed around heavy consumption of a low-calorie cabbage soup over a week for short-term weight loss. Cabbage is an excellent home remedy for obesity for another reason - it contains a chemical called tartaric acid which inhibits the conversion of sugars and other carbohydrates into fat. A simple but effective remedy for weight-loss would be to substitute meals with cabbage salads. Raw cabbage juice is considered to be very effective in curing constipation. Studies show that drinking a lot of cabbage juice daily can also help heal ulcers. Cabbage contains the amino acid L-glutamine, which protects the stomach lining. Recent studies have shown that cabbage also lowers the risk of many types of cancer, such as prostate, colo-rectal, breast, lung, bladder, and ovarian cancer. Cabbage also reduces cholesterol and promotes heart health. Cooking TipsMany dislike cabbage because of the sulphurous odour it releases during the cooking process. The isothiocynates that cabbage contains break down into smelly sulphur compounds during cooking. Aluminum pans seem to increase this. Also, the longer you cook cabbage, the smellier it becomes. Hence, cook cabbage in stainless steel utensils and only until it's just tender. Or better still, eat it raw.Cabbage is notorious for the bloating and gas it produces. Bacteria that live naturally in the intestinal tract degrade the dietary fiber in cabbage, and in the process, produce gas. To help deal with this, use products such as Beano before eating cabbage. The health benefits of cabbage far outweigh these negative aspects; it should therefore be part of a healthy diet. 
Sources http://urbanext.illinois.edu The Complete Book of Nutritional Healing (Deborah Mitchell) Natural Home Remedies for Common Ailments (H. K. Bakhru) Related RecipesCabbage-Potato CurryBell Pepper-Cabbage Fry Cabbage Kootu Cabbage-Carrot Curry Cabbage Recipes Health Benefits of Cauliflower Health Benefits of Broccoli 
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