CABBAGE(বাাঁধাকপি)

Brassica oleracea var capitata

Cabbage is leafy green, red or white biennial vegetable which is grown annually. It is round
or oval in shape. It consists of soft, light green or whitish inner leaves covered with harder
and dark green outer leaves. It is widely used throughout the world and can be prepared in
a number of ways, but most commonly, it is included as either a cooked or raw part of many
salads.

Figure: Cabbage.

Nutritional value: Per 100 g

Energy 103 kJ (25 kcal)

Carbohydrates 5.8 g

Sugars 3.2 g

Dietary fiber 2.5 g

Protein 1.28 g

Fat 0.1 g
 Vitamins Quantity Minerals Quantity
B1 0.061 mg Ca 40 mg
B2 0.040 mg Fe 0.47 mg
B3 0.234 mg Mg 12 mg
B5 0.212 mg Mn 0.16 mg
P 26 mg
B6 0.124 mg
K 170 mg
B9 43 µg
Na 18 mg
C 36.6 mg
Zn 0.18 mg
K 76 µg
Fluoride 1 µg

Health Benefits:

Antioxidant Agent: Cabbage acts as a good detoxifier too, meaning that it purifies the
blood and removes toxins , primarily free radicals and uric acid which are the main causes of
rheumatism, gout, arthritis, renal calculi, skin diseases, and eczema .This detoxifying effect
of cabbage is due to high content of vitamin C and sulfur in it.

Anti-inflammatory Agent: Cabbage is known to accumulate a build-up of cadmium-

binding complexes in its leaves and one of the main components of that is glutamine.
Glutamine is a strong anti-inflammatory agent, so consuming it can reduce the effects of
many types of inflammation, irritation, allergies, joint pain, fever, and various skin
disorders.

Prevents cancer: One of the most celebrated health benefits of cabbage is its powerful
antioxidant quality .This means that cabbage and other similar vegetables scavenge free
radicals from the body, which can be detrimental to overall health and are major
contributors to cancer and heart diseases .It also contains glucosinolates that can be
converted to isothiocyanate compounds that help in the prevention of various cancers
including breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer . Red cabbage also has a number
of anti-cancer compounds, like lupeol, sinigrin, and sulphorafane which are known to
stimulate enzyme activity and inhibit the growth of tumors that lead to cancer . One study
performed primarily on Chinese women , showed a significant reduction in breast cancer
when cruciferous vegetables like cabbage were regularly added to their diet .

Supports the digestive tract: Cabbage is very rich in fiber and glucosinolates , which is the
main health benefit of roughage . this helps the body retain water and it maintains the
bulkiness of the food as it moves through the bowels .Thus it is a good remedy for
constipation and other problems related to digestion .
Regulates Heart health & Cholesterol: By binding the bile acids, it helps to lower your
total LDL cholesterol levels . Cabbage is also rich in polyphenols, which reduces the risk of
cardiovascular diseases by reducing blood pressure and preventing platelet build-up .

Protects from Radiation Therapy: Cabbage has a rare compound called 3,3´-
diindolylmethane(DIM) which has been shown to prevent the risks associated with
radiation therapy. It helps ensuring that the red and white blood cells and the platelet count
remain existent, which is often not the case during radiation therapy. Therefore, DIM is also
favored for use during cancer treatment in order to protect healthy tissue.

Boosts Immunity: Due to the high vitamin C content of Cabbage, it helps in boosting the
immune system and fighting off free radicals.

Skin Care & Vitamin C: As mentioned already, cabbage is rich in anti-oxidants, including
vitamin C , anthocyanins, and sulfur, since it is a cruciferous vegetable. Antioxidants play a
major role in skin health and the general toning and improvement of the body in response
to the aging process. Therefore, the antioxidants you get by eating cabbage can cause a
turn-around in your aging processes, leaving you feeling and looking healthy and young. It
also helps in preventing the onset of acnes.

Weight Loss: Cabbage is frequently recommended for people who want to lose weight in a
healthy way. Since cabbage is packed with many beneficial vitamins, minerals, and other
nutrients, it is a healthy dietary option for people to eat and is quite filling since it has high
levels of fiber, which add bulk to the bowels. It is also low in calories, amounting to only 33
calories in a cup of cooked cabbage. Therefore , people can go on the popular “cabbage
soup” diet, and eat plenty of food to stay healthy, without gaining excess weight.

Prevents Cataract: Cabbage is a rich source of beta-carotene, so many people, particularly

as they get older, turn to cabbage for its ability to prevent macular degeneration and
promote good eye health and delay cataract formation.

Hair Care: Cabbage being rich in sulfur and silicon helps in preventing dry hair. It also has a
high vitamin A contents that acts as an anti-oxidant and promotes hair health and hair
growth.

Prevents Prostate Cancer: Beta-carotene has been positively linked to reduce chances of
prostate cancer, which is an extra bonus on top of other anti-carcinogenic effects of
cabbage.

Improves brain health: Cabbage is a very powerful brain food. The presence of vitamin K
and anthocyanins within cabbage can give a strong boost to mental function and
concentration. Vitamin K is essential for the production of sphingolipids, the myelin sheath
around nerves. This wrapping is what protects nerves from damage and decay. Therefore,
consuming vitamin K can improve your defense against neural degeneration, Perkinson´s
and Alzheimer´s disease, and dementia. Cabbage , being rich in iodine, also helps in proper
functioning of the brain and the nervous system, along with keeping the glands of the
endocrine system in proper condition.

Improves Bones: Cabbage, as well as all cruciferous vegetables, are great sources of
minerals, like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These three essential minerals are
integral in the protection of bones from degradation and the onset of conditions like,
osteoporosis and general bone weakening.

Regulates Blood Pressure: The presence of potassium in cabbage also makes it a

wonderful way to protect yourself from elevated blood pressure, which increases the risk of
heart attack and stroke. Potassium is a vasodilator, which means that it opens up the blood
vessels and eases the flow of blood, so it is not being forced in a stress-inducing way
through constricted arteries and veins. Overall, cabbage is a great shield against many
types of dangerous conditions.

Reduce Muscle Aches: When certain bacteria ferment the sugars in cabbage during the
preparation of sauerkraut, lactic acid is released. It is not the easiest compound to find in a
diet, but it has been shown to reduce muscle aches and soreness, so in some small way,
cabbage can help in general pain relief and muscle soreness, depending on how it is
prepared.

Speeds Up Healing: Cabbage is rich in sulfur, which is a very useful nutrient as it fights
infections. A deficiency of sulfur can result in microbial infections and a greatly reduced
healing speed. It also reduces the frequency and severity of ulcers.

SIDE EFFECTS: Cabbages can also have a few side effects on your body, include the
following:

 Bloating.
 Food borne illness.
 Goiter.
 Iodine intake.
 Flatulence.
 Diarrhea.
 Drop in blood sugar.
 Colic.
Interesting facts about Cabbage :

 In 2012, Scott robb, Palmer, Alaska, broke the world record for heaviest cabbage at
62.71 kilograms ( 138.25lb).
 The largest cabbage dish ever made was on 19 december , 2008 in the Macedonian
city of Prilep , with 80,191 sarmas (cabbage rolls) weighing 544 kg (1,221lbs).
 A thick-witted person may be called a cabbagehead. In Hebrew , the term “rosh
kruv” (cabbagehead) implies stupidity.
 In ancient China (roughly 1000 B.C) scrolls touted cabbage as a magic cure all for
bald men. It̕s hard to say if there̕s any truth in this claim, but no one can deny
cabbage is chock full of nutrients that promote good health.
 In De Agri Cultura ( on Agriculture) , Cato the Elder suggested that women could
prevent diseases by bathing in urine obtained from those who had frequently eaten
cabbage.