Why is white cabbage useful, properties and preparation

The benefits and harms of white cabbage are an important issue, since this inexpensive vegetable often appears on the everyday table. To give the correct answer, you need to study the properties of the product and the characteristics of its use.

The origin of white cabbage

White cabbage is one of the most ancient vegetables on the planet. The Mediterranean is considered the homeland of this vegetable - it is known that it was cultivated in Ancient Greece and Rome.

From the shores of warm seas, the vegetable came to Europe, Asia and Russia, and this happened quite a long time ago. In particular, mentions of white cabbage are found in the chronicles that have survived from the times of Kievan Rus. Currently, the vegetable is cultivated all over the world.

Vitamins and minerals in white cabbage

The white-headed vegetable is a real record holder in terms of the content of nutrients. The composition includes:

• vitamins B1, B9, B6, B3 and B2;
• vitamins A and E;
• vitamin C, in order to get the daily allowance, it is enough to consume 200 g of fresh product;
• rare vitamin U or methionine substance;
• minerals phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc;
• components potassium, sulfur, manganese, sodium and selenium;
• glucose and vegetable sugars;
• organic acids and amino acids;
• phytoncides;
• alimentary fiber.

How many calories are in white cabbage

A healthy vegetable has a low calorie content - it contains only 28 kcal per 100 g fresh. At the same time, carbohydrates occupy 4.7 g, while proteins and fats are represented by only 1.8 g and 0.1 g, respectively.

Useful properties of white cabbage

The benefits of white cabbage for the human body extend to almost all systems and organs. With continued use, this vegetable:

• cleanses the body of toxins and helps lower cholesterol;
• reduces the risk of developing atherosclerosis;
• facilitates the work of the liver and protects it from ailments;
• regulates blood glucose levels and helps in the treatment and prevention of diabetes;
• strengthens the immune system, protects against the development of depression and chronic fatigue;
• has a beneficial effect on the kidneys and gallbladder;
• helps to relieve the symptoms of gout;
• has a positive effect on the heart.

The benefit of young white cabbage is also that its properties prevent the development of oncology and benign tumors.

For women

The benefits of white cabbage for women are primarily in the dietary properties of the product.A vegetable perfectly helps to lose excess weight, as it quickly normalizes digestion, removes toxins from the body and does not become a source of excess calories.

In addition, tartronic acid, which is present in white vegetables, prevents the conversion of carbohydrates into body fat. And the beneficial properties of folic acid ensure good functioning of the reproductive system.

For men

The benefits of cabbage for men is that the white cabbage has a beneficial effect on potency and libido. Its use protects the heart and blood vessels from ailments, therefore, the risk of early strokes and heart attacks is reduced.

A healthy white vegetable helps men maintain stamina and energy. And the vegetable is also an effective remedy for intoxication and helps well with a hangover.

For the elderly

Healthy vitamins and minerals in the white cabbage vegetable help keep you active and clear of mind in old age. The vegetable, with regular use, strengthens the joints, prevents the development of atherosclerosis and rejuvenates the body. The benefits of cabbage for the intestines help maintain the normal functioning of the metabolic system.

At what age can children be given white cabbage

The benefits and harms of fresh cabbage for the child's body are ambiguous. Despite the enormous value of the vegetable, it can be offered fresh to children only after 1.5 years. Until this age, the vegetable is poorly absorbed by the child's body and will lead to flatulence, bloating and colic.

However, it is very useful to introduce the product into the children's diet later. Together with a white vegetable, the baby will receive all the necessary vitamins, phosphorus and potassium, which are important for the development of the bone, nervous and heart systems. The product rarely causes allergies, so usually children perceive cabbage very well.

Before introducing it into the diet, you should consult your pediatrician.

Is cabbage possible for pregnant and lactating mothers

White cabbage is very useful during the period of bearing a child, since it regulates the metabolism in the woman's body and protects the expectant mother from viruses and infections. Folic acid, present in large quantities in vegetables, is essential for healthy fetal development.

But at the same time, one should remember about the potential dangers of a vegetable - sometimes it causes flatulence and bloating. The greatest benefits of cabbage for pregnant women will bring sauerkraut or boiled.

During lactation, it is useful to consume vegetable juice, it enhances milk production and allows you to get rid of unpleasant distension in the chest. Of course, in this case, it is necessary to observe the reaction of the baby to the product and refuse white cabbage if the child begins to have colic.

The benefits of white cabbage for weight loss

A low-calorie vegetable with a high organic acid content is very beneficial to consume during a diet. The use of fresh cabbage for weight loss is that it helps to remove toxins from the body and accelerate the elimination of extra pounds.

With good health and the absence of contraindications, you can arrange fasting days on white cabbage - during the day there is only vegetable salad seasoned with lemon juice. However, the benefits of white cabbage for weight loss will appear only if you adhere to this diet 1 day a week, otherwise the body will be harmed.

White cabbage in folk medicine

The medicinal properties of white cabbage make it a valuable ingredient in homemade wellness recipes.The vegetable is used to combat colds and lack of vitamins, inflammation and pain of various origins.

A decoction of white cabbage for colds

Due to the increased content of vitamin C, the white vegetable helps to cope with the symptoms of influenza and SARS faster. You can prepare a useful broth - pour 200 g of cabbage leaves with 3 cups of water and cook for a quarter of an hour.

Filter the finished product, cool it and add 50 g of natural honey, and then drink a glass three times a day at a time. The benefits and harms of cabbage broth depend on the dosage - you should not exceed the indicated portions so as not to harm the stomach.

Infusion of white cabbage with vitamin deficiency

If there are not enough vitamins, then white cabbage becomes the most affordable product for maintaining good health. A useful infusion can be prepared from it:

• finely chop about 60 g of cabbage;
• pour a glass of boiling water and cover with a lid;
• insist for 3 hours, and then strain.

Warm infusion is drunk twice a day before meals in a glass. The healing drink retains a maximum of useful properties and allows you to quickly restore the necessary vitamins.

White cabbage leaf treatment

For many diseases, a fresh white leaf becomes an excellent healing agent. It does not need careful processing - the benefits of the cabbage leaf are manifested even when applied externally.

With a headache

For migraines, a fresh cabbage leaf, slightly mashed, is recommended to be applied to the forehead, temples or the back of the head, depending on where the pain is concentrated. You need to keep the compress for about half an hour. Useful properties of the product also help with headaches with fever - cabbage reduces fever.

With mastopathy

For pain and inflammation in the chest, women are advised to knead a fresh cabbage leaf so that it slightly releases the juice, and apply a compress to the sore spot for half an hour several times a day. You can additionally apply honey or kefir to the compress; the compress is fixed on top with a bandage. The anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties of the vegetable quickly relieve the symptoms of mastopathy.

With arthrosis

The benefits of cabbage for joints are well manifested in arthritis, arthrosis and rheumatism. All you need is to crush a fresh leaf a little before the juice appears, and then apply a compress to the inflamed area. You need to change it hourly during the day.

For sore throat

If your throat hurts, then a compress from mashed cabbage leaf is kept on the neck for 1-2 hours. Additionally, it is recommended to gargle with fresh cabbage juice - this will allow you to quickly cope with the disease.

For burns, wounds and bruises

The wound healing properties of the vegetable help well with skin damage. On a cleaned burn, wound or hematoma, you need to attach a cabbage leaf, after softening it slightly, and leave for a quarter of an hour. Repeat the compress several times a day.

Compresses made from leaves grated into gruel, mixed with egg white, also help well.

Cabbage leaf face masks

The benefits and harms of cabbage for the body are used in home cosmetology. The vegetable vitaminizes the skin, effectively relieves inflammation, has a tightening and rejuvenating effect.

For dry skin, the following mask will benefit:

• cabbage leaves are finely chopped so that the raw material takes 1 glass in volume;
• the resulting raw material is poured with half a glass of milk;
• the mixture is boiled and boiled for several minutes to soften the cabbage;
• the mask is cooled and crushed into a gruel using a blender.

The product is distributed over the face and left for a quarter of an hour, after which it is removed and washed with lukewarm water.

For aging skin, another home remedy is recommended:

• 2 cabbage leaves are chopped by hand or in a blender;
• mixed with a teaspoon of honey, a quarter of a glass of apple juice and a quarter of a teaspoon of yeast;
• mix thoroughly and apply the mask to the skin for 20 minutes.

In order for the effect of the masks to appear quickly, they should be done at least three times a week.

Does cabbage lose its benefits when cooking?

Heat treatment always affects the amount of vitamins and minerals negatively. Some of them simply disappear when boiling or roasting white cabbage. If you process a vegetable for a short time, then a lot of valuable properties will remain in it, but at the same time, the benefits for the body of raw cabbage will still be higher.

The only way of processing, in which the beneficial properties of the vegetable are not only not lost, but also increased, is fermentation.

What does cabbage go with and how to cook it deliciously

The benefits of fresh cabbage salad are considered the highest. It is prepared very simply - the raw materials are chopped, sprinkled with table salt, left for about half an hour, and then the mixture is properly ground. If desired, honey, vegetable oil or lemon juice are also added to the vegetable. If you use such a dish 200 g per day, then colds will occur much less often.

The benefits and harms of fried cabbage are ambiguous, since the calorie content and fat content of such a dish increase. Stewed and boiled vegetables are beneficial, but there are several rules to follow when cooking.

1. The benefits of boiled white cabbage will remain in high volume if you process it for no more than a quarter of an hour.
2. In the cooking process, only refined vegetable oil or butter is used - margarine and animal fat cannot be used.
3. It is better to discard the stump before cooking - it may contain harmful substances.

A white-headed vegetable goes well with many products - beets and bell peppers, carrots and apples, herbs and nuts. It is best to eat a vegetable in the morning or afternoon, when the benefits of cabbage for the stomach are the most. But for dinner, the product is not worth eating, it can overload the stomach and cause flatulence.

Harm of white cabbage and contraindications

The health benefits and harms of white cabbage are closely related. First of all, it is not recommended to overuse the vegetable - this leads to bloating, nausea and pain, as the body gets too much fiber.

Contraindications to the use of fresh white vegetables will be:

• stomach ulcer and acute gastritis;
• diseases of the intestines and stomach, accompanied by bleeding;
• pancreatitis;
• enterocolitis;
• increased peristalsis.

Also, do not use fasting days too often on fresh white cabbage, in which case its properties will harm the stomach and intestines.

Is it possible to eat cabbage stump

Whether the cabbage stump brings benefit or harm to this question cannot be answered unambiguously.

Since the stalk is, in fact, a cabbage stalk, a huge supply of nutrients accumulates in it during the ripening of the vegetable. The stalk contains a lot of vitamin C and magnesia, potassium and calcium.

But at the same time, the stump also stores in itself all the harmful substances coming from the soil. It can accumulate radionuclides, nitrates and chemicals used in the cultivation of the vegetable. Therefore, it is better to cut off the stump from a purchased white-cabbage vegetable and discard it to avoid harm.

How to choose and store cabbage

Choosing white cabbage in the store is quite simple. There are just a few things to check.

1. Above all will be the benefits of early white cabbage - the head of cabbage should be small, dense, without soft rotten places.
2. Cabbage leaves should be uniform green in color without yellow, brown or black spots.
3. It is better to take a vegetable without dents and other damage - this way it will last longer.
4. The cut of a fresh white-headed vegetable should be white, and the smell from the head of cabbage should come only pleasant.

The shelf life of white cabbage is about six months in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0 ° C. Warmer conditions of white cabbage are harmful if the thermometer rises above 4 ° C, the vegetable will begin to germinate.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of white cabbage depend on how fresh and high-quality the vegetable is on the table, and on whether there are individual contraindications. When used properly, fresh cabbage will strengthen the body's defenses and help normalize digestion.