Cabbage is a low-calorie, high-fiber vegetable that is rich in vitamins C and K, as well as other nutrients. It has potential health benefits such as reducing the risk of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. However, people taking blood thinners or with low thyroid hormone levels should avoid it.
Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable related to kale, kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. Wonderfully crunchy, it can be used in numerous recipes like coleslaw, or stuffed and baked or added to soups and stews. The incentives to eat cabbage are certainly significant, not just because it tastes good, but because it offers so many health benefits.
One cup of cabbage (about 150 grams) has only 33 calories. However, it is full of vitamins and provides an excellent source of dietary fiber. Some of the health benefits of cabbage are its high levels of vitamins C and K. It is also a good source of many of the B vitamins, folate, vitamin A, and omega-3 fatty acids. Vitamin C alone makes cabbage be rich in antioxidants that can help protect cells and provide anti-aging benefits.
There are other documented benefits of cabbage. For example, cabbage can be a helpful food when dealing with peptic ulcers. Red cabbage in particular has been shown in some studies to have the potential to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. A certain type of protein called amyloid beta can damage brain cells, and some cells in red cabbage, called anthocyanins, can act to prevent this damage.
Several studies have evaluated the benefits of cabbage as a cancer preventative, and some of these are very encouraging. Many of these studies look at not only cabbage consumption but also other cruciferous vegetables. In research conducted in the Netherlands, people who ate cruciferous vegetables cut their risk of colorectal cancer by almost half. Another study in Texas evaluated how these vegetables could reduce bladder risk by nearly 30%.
There are quite a few published articles suggesting that the risk of lung cancer may be lower for people who eat cabbage or other types of cruciferous vegetables. Even smokers can reduce their risk of lung cancer, although eating cabbage shouldn’t be seen as a way to prevent cancer in smokers. The benefits of cabbage for non-smokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke are also high and could be significant in reducing the risk of lung cancer due to smoke exposure.
Another interesting benefit of cabbage is its potential to help reduce the incidence of breast cancer. Research on this suggests that adolescent girls who eat 3 to 5 servings of cabbage per week may be less likely to develop breast cancer as adults. Adult women should also not forgo eating the vegetable, as regular consumption of cabbage may help provide ongoing protection against breast cancer.
Although there are many benefits of cabbage, there are some people who should avoid it. Its high levels of vitamin K mean that those taking blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin) should avoid cabbage. This can interfere with the levels of this medicine. Also, those with low thyroid hormone levels may want to skip cabbage because it can interfere with the thyroid gland’s ability to produce thyroid hormone.
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