Some people may hesitate to eat cabbage for fear of bloating. In fact, there are so many benefits of cabbage for health. The nutritional content in it is believed to be able to facilitate digestion to maintain eye health.
Col (Brasicca oleracea) is a vegetable that belongs to the broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage groups. Based on the color, cabbage is divided into several types, namely purple cabbage, white cabbage, and green cabbage. However, the four types of cabbage have a nutritional content that is not much different.
Cabbage contains macronutrients that are important for the body, namely fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Not only that, this vegetable is also high in fiber and contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, and iron.
A variety of antioxidant content can also be found in cabbage, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins.
Various Benefits of Cabbage for Health
Thanks to its abundant nutritional content, there are several health benefits of cabbage that you can get, namely:
1. Smooth digestion
The high fiber and water content in cabbage is known to be good for the digestive tract. The benefits of this cabbage are believed to be able to launch bowel movements and prevent or treat constipation.
2. Reduce inflammation
The antioxidant content of polyphenols and flavonoids in cabbage is believed to be good for reducing inflammation caused by colitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
3. Maintain heart health
Apart from reducing inflammation, the content of polyphenols and flavonoids in cabbage is also known to reduce blood pressure and lower bad cholesterol (LDL) levels. Therefore, cabbage can reduce the risk of heart disease.
In addition, the content of fiber, potassium, vitamin B3, and folate in cabbage is also believed to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.
4. Maintain eye health
Not only good for maintaining heart health, cabbage is also believed to maintain eye health. The high content of polyphenol antioxidants in purple cabbage is believed to prevent vision problems due to macular degeneration.
Purple cabbage also contains antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin as well as vitamin A which can prevent damage to retinal cells in the eye.
5. Lowering the risk of cancer
A number of studies show that eating vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, and cabbage can inhibit the growth of several types of cancer cells, such as esophageal cancer, colon cancer, and stomach cancer.
The benefits of cabbage come from the anticancer properties contained in it. Cabbage also contains vitamin C and antioxidants which are known to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the body.
Some of the benefits above show that cabbage is very good for body health. However, to get the benefits of cabbage, you are not advised to consume it in excess because it can cause flatulence and nausea.
To get the various benefits of cabbage, you can consume it immediately after cleaning as a vegetable. You can also mix it into soups or process it into stews.
If you have a history of certain diseases and are still hesitant to eat cabbage or experience certain symptoms after consuming cabbage, such as persistent bloating, abdominal pain, or diarrhea, don't hesitate to consult a doctor so that he can be examined and given proper treatment.