If you want to preserve these nutritional benefits, it's best to steam your cabbage. First, because steaming improves its cholesterol-lowering properties. Steaming also preserves more glucosinolates than microwaving, despite longer cooking time. Purple or red cabbage is a special nutritional powerhouse.
Even Raw, It's Great for You
Although you get different nutrients if you cook or ferment it, raw red cabbage in particular might give you the best nutritional boost per serving. Slice it very thinly and leave it for about 10 minutes to help bring out the fullest, most complex flavors.
Cabbage contains phytonutrients that act as antioxidants to reduce your risk of certain cancers. However, eating large quantities of cabbage can cause negative side effects, such as flatulence, diarrhea, medication interactions and hypothyroidism.
Vegetables that belong to the cabbage family such as cauliflower, Brussels, broccoli, and sprouts should never be consumed raw. These vegetables contain sugar that is difficult to digest. Eating these vegetables raw may lead to a number of gastronomical problems.
Boiled cabbage is an excellent way to take advantage of the vegetable's nutrients. Cabbage is packed with vitamins C and K, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, and phytonutrients. It's low in calories, though the butter in this recipe adds calories to the dish.
Steaming is an indirect cooking process which means delicate ingredients can be gently cooked to retain their flavour and nutrients. The benefit of steaming cabbage is that it doesn't produce the unpleasant smell associated with boiled cabbage.
It's best to avoid cabbage if you have an under-active thyroid gland. Surgery: Cabbage might affect blood glucose levels and could interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgical procedures. Stop using cabbage at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are very good for health in general but are probably not the best thing to load up on before you head to bed. These vegetables can interfere with your ability to sleep soundly because you're likely still digesting all that fibre while trying to fall asleep.
Yucca. One word: Cyanide! This root vegetable, a staple of South American cuisine, is packed with vitamins and minerals. But it's also hiding a sneaky, potentially lethal ingredient.
To get the most benefit, try to consume ½ to ¾ cup cooked or 1 ½ cup raw cabbage per day at least 5 days per week. This is pretty easy to do since there are so many ways to prepare cabbage. Traditional methods of steaming or boiling cabbage can extract flavor and nutrients.
Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, etc.) have a very unique compound of phytonutrients that can help decrease stomach fat.
Both cabbage and iceberg lettuce are good sources of nutrients. However, cabbage contains significantly more vitamins and minerals than iceberg lettuce, including vitamins C and K, folate, and potassium ( 1 , 2 ). In particular, green cabbage is packed with antioxidants, including polyphenol compounds and vitamin C.
1. Spinach. This leafy green tops the chart as one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables. That's because 1 cup (30 grams) of raw spinach provides 16% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin A plus 120% of the DV for vitamin K — all for just 7 calories ( 1 ).
Why is Cabbage better than Spinach? Considerably more alpha carotene per 100g. Alpha carotene is similar to beta carotene but is more effective in its role as an antioxidant. It helps maintaining healthy bones, skin and vision, as well as a strong immune system.
Cabbage is an exceptionally healthy food. It has an outstanding nutrient profile and is especially high in vitamins C and K. In addition, eating cabbage may even help lower the risk of certain diseases, improve digestion, and ease inflammation.
A: Cabbage contains sulphorous compounds, as well as a sugar called raffinose that when digested can cause gas and bloating. To minimize gas and bloating, eat smaller amounts at one time and drink water throughout the day to aid in digestion.
Improves Brain Health: Cabbage, particularly the purple variety, is powerful brain food. It contains vitamin K, and the antioxidant anthocyanin, which boosts mental function and concentration. Vitamin K, an often forgotten vitamin, can also improve your defense against conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia.
Packed with phytosterols (plant sterols) and insoluble fiber, cabbage can help keep your digestive system healthy and bowel movements regular. It fuels the good bacteria in your gut that protects your immune system and produces essential nutrients.
Always cook red cabbage with a little vinegar as this preserves the beautiful purple colour – without it, the cabbage will turn blue!
Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water. This also helps cut the pungent edge. Drain well before combining with other ingredients.
But a simple treatment for raw cabbage — salting — makes it just a tad more tender and considerably more flavorful while preserving its distinctive crunch. When you salt any vegetable that has high water content, the salt draws out some of the water by simple osmosis.