25 Major Benefits of Cabbage
Cabbage is a green leafy annual vegetable that closely relates to cole crops like Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts, etc. It is used both as a salad and vegetable and is available in many varieties like red cabbage, purple cabbage, white cabbage, and green cabbage. Being an excellent source of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other relevant compounds, cabbage provides numerous health and beauty benefits.
Health Benefits of Cabbage
Following are the major health benefits of cabbage
(1) Protection From Various Cancer(s)
Vitamin C, vitamin A and other relevant antioxidantal compounds like anthocyanins, diindolylmethane(DIM), sinigrin, lupeol, sulforaphane, and indole 3-carbinol (I3C) in the cabbage protects our cells and tissues from free radical damage, and thus minimizes the risk of several cancers like colon cancer, abdominal cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, intestinal cancer, and stomach cancer, etc.
Free radicals are the unstabilized ions that stabilize by stealing electrons from the neighboring molecules, and while doing so, it causes oxidative damage to them.
(2) Promotes Weight Loss
Cabbage promotes weight loss because of its low calorific value.
Eating 100 grams of cabbage provides 25 calories of energy which means one can enjoy cabbage without worrying about the excessive calorie intake.
The dietary fibers in the cabbage improve stomach satiety, control urges to eat again and again, and thus controls overeating which is a leading cause of obesity.
(3) Good Source Of Folic Acid
The folic acid present in the cabbage provides numerous benefits like production and maintenance of new cells, prevents changes to DNA, protection from some types of anemia.
Folic acid plays an important role during pregnancy as it is an essential mineral for the brain development of the fetus, and protects from spina bifida and neural tube defects.
(4) Strengthens Bones And Teeth
Cabbage strengthens our bones and teeth due to the presence of bone-strengthening minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin K in it.
Calcium is an essential mineral for our bone health as it promotes the growth and development of the bones, and deficiency of this mineral gives rise to osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a bone disorder in which our bones become weak and fragile, and are prone to fracture and damage.
Potassium in cabbage neutralizes acid load, reduces loss of calcium from the bones, and thus improves bone density.
Magnesium increases bone density and minimizes the risk of osteoporosis.
(5) Eating Cabbage Is Like Taking A Multi-Vitamin
Because of its rich nutritious profile, consuming cabbage is like taking a multivitamin pill.
It is loaded with riboflavin, pantothenic acid, thiamin, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, iron, and magnesium, etc that provides several health and beauty benefits.
(6) Immunity Booster
Cabbage strengthens our immune system, the defense mechanism of the body that helps in the prevention and treatment of various microbial infections, injuries, and diseases, etc.
Vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols in the cabbage protect the white blood cells or the immune cells from free radical damage, and thus strengthens our immune system.
With stronger immunity, we are less likely to get a cough, cold, fever, and flu, etc.
Vitamin C also enhances the production of white blood cells and further strengthens immunity.
Other nutrients like iron, potassium, magnesium, vitamin K and vitamin B complex, etc also contribute to better immune health.
(7) Provides Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Vitamin C, an anti-inflammatory compound present in the cabbage provides relief from pain and inflammation caused by inflammatory problems like arthritis, rheumatism, gouts, rheumatoid, asthma, and bronchial asthma. It also minimizes the risk of liver inflammation and lung inflammation.
(8) Good For Eyes
Cabbage benefits our ocular health as it contains essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fibers.
Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and other relevant compounds in cabbage protects our eyes from free radical damage, and thus minimizes the risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and glaucoma, etc.
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient for our eyes as it improves vision, prevents dryness of the eyes, and reduces the risk of night-blindness.
Potassium regulates blood pressure in the nerves of the eyes and minimizes the risk of glaucoma.
The anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin C relieve inflammation and minimize the risk of inflammatory glaucoma.
(9) Reduces Risk of Neuro-Degenerative Diseases
Cabbage is good for our brain and improves our neurological health.
Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and other relevant compounds such as phytonutrients and polyphenols protect our brain cells aka neurons from free radical damage and thus reduces the risk of several neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, amnesia and dementia, etc.
Other nutrients like vitamin K, zinc, iron, folic acid, and vitamin B complex, etc also contribute to neurological health as they provide several cognitive benefits like a sharper memory, improved focus, better concentration, reduced mental confusion, etc.
(10) Improves Digestive Health
Glutamine, an amino acid present in the cabbage helps in the treatment of stomach ulcers or peptic ulcers.
The laxative properties of the dietary fibers in cabbage improve bowel movement, ensures smooth elimination of stool from the digestive tract, and thus provides relief from constipation and other gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, gas, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, and flatulence, etc.
Anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin C protect the inner lining of the stomach from inflammation and subdue the associated pain.
Vitamin C and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols protect the digestive system from free radical damage and minimizes the risk of colon cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, and intestinal cancer, etc.
(11) Provides Relief For Sore Muscles
The anti-inflammatory properties of the vitamin C in cabbage provide relief from pain and inflammation caused by muscle soreness.
Cabbage also contains potassium, a vital mineral that improves blood circulation and leads to faster recovery.
Vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B complex also play an important role during muscle recovery.
(12) Provide Relief From Headache And Chronic Headaches.
As per anecdotal evidence, cabbage provides relief from headaches and chronic headaches.
For relieving headache, place some lightly crushed cabbage leaves in a cloth and gently massage this cloth on the affected area of the head.
Regularly consuming 25-50 milligrams of raw cabbage juice daily provides relief from chronic headaches.
(13) Reduces Hangovers
Cabbage provides relief from hangovers and minimizes the magnitude of associated symptoms like fatigue and weakness, excessive thirst or dry mouth, headaches and muscle aches, nausea and vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and sound, shakiness and dizziness, etc.
The dietary fibers present in the cabbage absorb alcohol acetaldehyde from the bloodstream and thus minimizes the effect of hangover.
(14) Regulates Blood Sugar
Cabbage helps in regulating blood sugar level and manages diabetes because of its low glycemic index and dietary fibers in them.
With a low glycemic index of 10, cabbage slows down the sugar release into the bloodstream, prevents a sudden spike in the blood sugar level, and thus aids in managing diabetes.
Dietary fibers in it slow down sugar absorption into the bloodstream and thus regulates blood sugar levels.
The betalains in the red cabbage also help in regulating blood sugar levels.
Even with this benefit, consume cabbage in moderation as excessive consumption may drop the blood sugar to an abnormally low level giving rise to hypoglycemia with symptoms like shakiness, dizziness, hunger, sweating, fast heartbeat, irritability, etc.
Also, if you are already on diabetes medication then consult your doctor before adding cabbage to the diet to ensure that there is no food-drug intolerance.
(15) Regulates Blood Pressure
Cabbage helps in providing relief from hypertension or high blood pressure, a silent killer that affects millions of people around the world and is a leading cause of various cardiovascular problems like heart attack, heart stroke, and coronary artery diseases.
It contains potassium, a natural vasodilator that relaxes our blood vessels, improves blood circulation, and thus provides relief from hypertension or high blood pressure.
Consume cabbage in moderation as excessive intake may drop the blood pressure to an abnormally low level, thereby increasing the risk of hypotension with symptoms like dizziness, fainting, nausea, blurred vision, dehydration, and unusual thirst, and pale skin, etc.
If you are already taking medication to regulate blood pressure level then have a word with your doctor before adding cabbage to your diet to ensure there is no food-drug intolerance.
(16) Manages Cholesterol Level
Cabbage helps in managing cholesterol levels and thus improves our cardiovascular health.
Dietary fibers in the cabbage reduce the level of bad LDL cholesterol from our bloodstream, prevent the accumulation of plaque and fat deposits in the arteries, and thus minimizes the risk of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is a condition that leads to hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to the accumulation of plaque and fat deposits in the arterial walls and is a leading cause of several cardiovascular problems.
(17) Improves Cardiovascular Health
Cabbage is good for our heart and improves our cardiovascular health due to the presence of essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, polyphenols, and dietary fibers, etc in them.
Vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids, etc protect our cardiovascular system from free radical damage, and thus improves our cardiovascular health.
Dietary fibers in cabbage reduce LDL cholesterol from the body and thus minimizes the risk of atherosclerosis which is a leading cause of several cardiovascular problems like heart attack, heart stroke, and coronary artery disease.
The vasodilating properties of potassium in cabbage relax our blood vessels, improves blood circulation, and thus provides relief from hypertension that gives rise to several cardiovascular problems like irregular heartbeat, heart attack, heart stroke, and coronary artery disease, etc.
Other nutrients like iron, zinc, selenium and vitamin B complex, etc also contribute to improved cardiovascular health.
Beauty Benefits Of Cabbage For Skin
Some of the major beauty benefits of cabbage for skin are as follows
(1) Keep Premature Aging At Bay
Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols in the cabbage protect our skin from the free radical damage and thus helps in keeping various signs of premature aging like fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and dark spots, etc at bay.
Free radicals are the unstabilized ions that get stabilized by stealing electrons from the neighboring molecules, and while doing so it causes oxidative damage to them.
(2) Provides Relief From Skin Dryness
Consuming cabbage juice and as well as topical application of the same as a face mask assist in reducing skin dryness as it contains essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals that provide nourishment to the skin, and make it soft, supple, and radiant.
Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A and other relevant compounds in cabbage protect our skin from free radical damage and minimizes signs of premature aging like fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, dark spots, and skin blemishes, etc.
(3) Improves Skin Complexion
The detoxifying properties of the dietary fibers in cabbage eliminates toxins, pollutants, impurities, and other unwanted substances from our system.
It improves our skin health and minimizes the risk of skin problems like acne and pimples.
Vitamin A and vitamin E in the cabbage rejuvenates our skin, provides nourishment to our skin pores, and bring out the natural glow of the skin.
Vitamin C and other relevant compound protects our skin cells from free radical damage, and keep premature aging at bay.
Vitamin C also enhances the production of collagen, an essential amino acid that maintains skin elasticity and reduces wrinkles and skin sagging.
(4) Minimizes Skin Problems Like Acne And Pimples
Cabbage is beneficial for treating skin problems like acne, pimples, eczema, skin rashes, leg ulcers, insect bites, and wounds, etc because of its rich nutritious profile.
Acne is a common skin problem that affects millions of people around the world and is mainly caused by the clogging of our skin pores by the accumulation of toxins, pollutants, dirt, and other unwanted substances.
Dietary fibers in the cabbage eliminate toxins, pollutants, and other unwanted substances from our system at the cellular level.
When there are fewer toxins, they are less likely to accumulate in the skin pores and this minimizes the risk of acne and pimples.
Dietary fibers also control the excess oil secretion from our skin glands and prevent acne from worsening.
To treat acne, steam some upper leaves of the cabbage and remove all their veins. Soften the boiled leaves by compressing them between cloth and cotton. Apply these leaves to the affected area and leave them overnight.
The antimicrobial properties of the cabbage help in the treatment of skin wounds and insect bites.
To heal skin eruptions, apply some crushed cabbage leaves on the affected area of the skin.
Additionally, you can apply the grated cabbage(wrapped in a cloth) to the affected area for 15-20 minutes for quick relief.
(5) Promotes Healthy Skin
The abundance of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other essential compounds in the cabbage makes them very beneficial for our skin health.
Nutrients in the cabbage provide nourishment to the skin, improves our skin health, and bring out the natural glow of the skin. It makes our skin soft, supple, and radiant.
Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, and relevant compounds protect the skin from free radical damage and minimizes signs of premature aging like fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and dark spots, etc.
Other nutrients like zinc, iron, vitamin B complex, selenium, and magnesium, etc also play an important role in improving our skin health.
(6) Provides Cleansing Benefits
Cabbage is a wonderful skin cleanser that eliminates toxins, pollutants, impurities, and other unwanted substances from our skin pores and thus improves our skin health.
The detoxifying properties of the dietary fibers in cabbage remove toxins and other unwanted substances from our body including the skin pores, and thus minimizes the risk of skin problems like acne and pimples.
Other nutrients in the cabbage provide nourishment to the skin and make it healthy.
Cabbage is also loaded with antioxidants that protect the skin from free radical damage and minimizes signs of premature aging.
Beauty Benefits Of Cabbage For Hair
The beauty benefits of cabbage for hair are as follows
(1) Promotes Hair Growth And Reduces Hair Fall
Cabbage is good for our hair follicles and scalp as they contain essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and dietary fibers, etc.
Vitamin C, vitamin A and other relevant compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols in cabbage protect our hair follicles and scalp from free radical damage, and thus minimizes the risk of premature greying of hair, hair fall, split ends, etc.
Iron and potassium improves blood circulation in the scalp and ensures proper nourishment to our hair follicles and scalp.
When our hair follicles are well-nourished, they become strong and healthy, and the risk of hair fall diminishes automatically.
Iron, selenium, zinc, and B vitamins in the cabbage improve our scalp health, and a healthy scalp promotes the growth of new hair follicles.
Consuming cabbage juice and as well as topical application of the same helps in keeping hair healthy.
For this, mix cabbage juice and cucumber juice in equal proportion (30 ml each) and thoroughly massage your hair roots and scalp for 10-15 minutes before going to bed every alternate night. Wash it off in the morning.
(2) Make Hair Soft, Silky, And Shiny
Cabbage brings out the natural shine of the hair and makes them soft, strong, and lustrous.
Antioxidants and relevant compounds in the cabbage protect our hair follicles from free radical damage and minimizes premature greying of hair, hair fall, split ends, etc.
Other nutrients like iron, zinc, and B vitamins in cabbage also improves our scalp health as they nourish our hair follicles and scalp.
It also contains vitamin E and silicon that add shine to the hair.
To soften your hair, mash ½ cup boiled cabbage and ¼ cup fresh lemon juice together to form a thick paste. Apply it on the scalp and leave it for an hour. After this, shampoo and condition normally.
Disclaimer
The information contained in the post is for general purposes only and shouldn’t be considered as medical advice or as an alternative to medical advice. Although I’ve tried my best to keep the information in this post as accurate and updated as possible, I make no guarantee of the same accuracy.
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