13 Healthy Reasons To Eat More Cabbage

Learn why you should add this inexpensive cruciferous veggie to your diet year-round.

When we think of cabbage, we think of coleslaw in the summer, and corned beef and cabbage at St. Patrick’s Day, but probably don’t give it another thought after that. It turns out this humble cruciferous vegetable has such a dense nutritional profile, it should probably grace your plate more often than just once or twice a year. Learn about the health benefits of cabbage—and there are quite a few. Here’s a sampling:

13 Health Benefits of Cabbage

Cabbage is a leafy vegetable of the Brassica family, which also includes broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, and it’s one of the oldest known vegetables, dating as far back as 4,000 B.C. in China. It comes in several varieties—green, red, and savoy—which can be eaten raw* or cooked, thrown in a soup, tossed in a salad or stir fry, topped on fish tacos, or simply just steamed by itself. Even boiled, as you would for your favorite St. Patrick’s Day meal, corned beef and cabbage! 

The inexpensiveness and health benefits of cabbage earned it its nickname “drug of the poor” during the Middle Ages. If you are truly trying to improve your diet, adding this cruciferous vegetable to your meal plan is a good place to start.  Here are 13 good reasons why:

1. Improved Digestion: You’ve heard “eat your roughage” and cabbage is a healthful source. Its fiber and water content can help to prevent constipation and maintain a healthy digestive tract. Eating cabbage in fermented form (sauerkraut) also gives you a boost of probiotics, one of the best things for a healthy digestive system and gut.

Sauerkraut is made from cabbage and is a favorite on hot dogs.
Love sauerkraut? Pile it on your summer dogs!

2. Weight Loss: With a mere 33 calories per cup, cabbage is high in fiber and contains zero fat. Cabbage is frequently recommended to people who want to lose weight since it is packed with so many nutrients and its high fiber content makes it quite filling.

3. Lowers Cholesterol: Cabbage can also be used to help lower your cholesterol. Its fiber and nutrients bind with bile acids in the intestine and pass out in the stool, rather than being absorbed into the blood. Eating it steamed gives it more cholesterol-lowering power.

4. Immune Booster: Cabbage is an excellent source of the ever-so-important vitamin C, crucial for maintaining a strong immune system.

5. Cancer Fighter: It has been known for years that consumption of cruciferous vegetables is associated with lower cancer risk. The sulfur-containing compound, sulforaphane, which give these vegetables their bitter taste, is also what specifically gives them their cancer-fighting power. Sulforaphane has been shown to inhibit the progression of cancer cells. Anthocyanins, the powerful antioxidants that give red cabbage its vibrant color, have been shown to slow the formation and even kill already-formed cancer cells.

6. Reduces Inflammation: Inflammation causes unnecessary pain and discomfort and can also lead to a host of other diseases and ailments. Glutamine, an amino acid found in cabbage, is a strong anti-inflammatory agent, helping to reduce joint pain, arthritis, and ease allergies. Cabbage is considered one of the top 10 best food sources of glutamine.

7. 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. Anthocyanin is also effective at reducing plaque on the brain, preventing the deterioration of short- and long-term memory.

8. Reduces the Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke: Researchers have identified nearly twenty different flavonoids and fifteen different phenols in cabbage, all which demonstrate antioxidant activity. These antioxidant nutrients play a role in decreasing your risk of several cardiovascular diseases. Cabbage also contains the beneficial minerals calcium and potassium, which help regulate blood pressure.

9. Heals Ulcers: Cabbage has been historically known to heal ulcers due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have found that drinking cabbage juice is very effective in preventing ulcers.

10. Clears Skin: Antioxidants play a major role in the health of your skin. Free radicals are an underlying cause of wrinkles, skin discoloration, and other conditions. Cabbage contains a wealth of different antioxidants that can turn around the aging process of your skin.

11. Energy Booster: Cabbage is high in energy-boosting B vitamins, including B1, B2, and B6. Next time you feel sluggish, swap out that cup of afternoon sugary coffee for a serving of cabbage—coleslaw might make the perfect snack! Try this Texas Coleslaw recipe!

12. Hangover Cure: Cabbage has been used for relief from hangovers since Roman times. It is thought to clear the body of congeners, by-products of the fermentation process. In addition, the high fiber content of cabbage helps to absorb the alcohol acetaldehyde. The next time you wake up after having had a few too many, do as the Ancient Greeks did and boil up some cabbage and save the juice for drinking.

13. Eases Headaches: Try relieving a headache or migraine by making a compress out of cabbage leaves. Crush a few of the inner leaves to make a paste, then place the paste in a cloth, and apply to your forehead until dry. Or try drinking raw cabbage juice (1-2 oz) to bring some relief.

Fun Fact: One cup of shredded raw cabbage contains 190% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C.

Cabbage is the second most economical cooked vegetable in terms of price per edible cup (second only to potatoes). This relatively low economic cost makes this cruciferous vegetable a nutritional bargain.

*If you have thyroid issues, talk to your doctor about consuming raw cruciferous vegetables.

Head - Magnesium sulfate
Natalie LaVolpe

Natalie LaVolpe is a freelance writer and former special education teacher. She is dedicated to healthy living through body and mind. She currently resides on Long Island, New York, with her husband, children, and dog.

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Maryannbower

You mentioned 3 cabbages in this article. Was wondering if it also includes bokChoy and Chinese cabbage

jackie

putting cabbage in bras for sore breasts, how does that work?

cin

You also might want to remind those on certain blood thinners such as Coumadin (Warfarin) that the vitamin K is a problem. Thanks

Deborah

Making ham and cabbage tonight

Bhajan Lal

Thanks for publishing such important information

LaBic

A rinsed & dried head of cabbage can be thinly sliced or chopped into bits, and kept stored in one’s refrigerator longer than most fresh vegetables — making a convenient additive for coleslaw, salads, stir-fry, soup…

D. Smith

We used to have a walk-in restaurant/take out place here where I live (in the middle of the country) which was run by a family from the east coast somewhere, and they served the BEST dang sandwiches we’ve ever eaten. They were made like a hoagie or a sub sandwich (called different things in different places, I guess) and instead of using cheap head lettuce on them, they used raw cabbage and were busy ALLLL the time. I have no idea why they closed, but I think the family decided to move back east for family reasons or something. But my family sure does miss them – and their sandwiches! These sandwiches were called “grinders”. Anyone else ever heard of them or eaten a sandwich this way? What did you think?

Deborah

I have heard of grinders but they are a style of sandwich like a hoagie. Not what is in them. They had sausage and cheese where I knew them from

Edgardo Matute

Nature is the best doctor.

Jd Tomasek

What is sauerkraut?

Susan Higgins
Mary

Thank you.. I needed the reminder..to eat cabbage.I love it. Great article..
What Blessing you are…grew up on cabbage.and Family still alive last Aunt passed @ 101 years old..maybe that’s because we always had Cabbage, Chez,and Croation…Cabbage is easy to grow and last long easy to store..
Thanks again…

DISPENSER

I am always amazed at the number of health experts who base their information on rumors and internet articles by other “experts.”

m

IMPORTANT NOTE: Cruciferous veggies (like cabbage, etc) are NOT good for those of us who have thyroid problems. It interferes with the absorption of iodine! So no cruciferous for me … except corned beef & cabbage once a year! LOL

Susan Higgins

Hi m, Thank you. We do mention those concerns in the story.

Deborah

I love cabbage but didn’t know that. I guess I will limit my intake

Ava Hill

A great article. I will be sure to eat plenty of cabbage!

Betty Smith

I love cabbage, cooked or raw, Didn’t know it was so healthy! St. Patty’s Day, Corned Beef & Cabbage it is!!!

eugenia fonseca

Love cabbage but I didn’t know that was so good !!!raw, in soup,salad with red onions and mayo tacos etc Thank you for let’s know.

eugenia fonseca

What a good article , I love cabbage fry, in soup raw with mayo and red onions but I learn now that is a good to eat and so many properties,tacos without it not good for me Happy St.Patric’s Day!!!

Dale Hoover

‘@ Susan Higgins: “One doctor explained “if a person’s thyroid disorder is not caused by iodine deficiency, the iodine blocking properties of cruciferous vegetables are nothing to worry about (especially if the person is eating a nutrient dense diet that contains natural sources of iodine and selenium).”
The (insufficient) RDA for iodine is only to prevent goiter, & iodine sources are very few. Cruciferous vegetables have long been know as ‘goitrogens.’

“…iodine is not only required for proper function of your thyroid. Other tissues that absorb and use large amounts of iodine include: breasts, skin, salivary glands, stomach, pancreas, brain, cerebral spinal fluid, thymus. Iodine deficiency, or insufficiency, in any of these tissues will lead to dysfunction of that tissue.”

“Iodine is a trace mineral found primarily in seafood, seaweed, plants grown in iodine-rich soil, unrefined sea salt and iodized table salt. Many people do not get enough iodine, and contrary to popular belief, this includes many people in developed countries. Iodine from iodized salt is poorly absorbed and is not a healthy choice for raising iodine levels in the diet. Iodine is a gas and is not very available in food and supplements. Instead, it is the iodide form that is more stable and can be consumed. In the body, Iodide converts into Iodine which is the active form.

“Iodine actually induces apoptosis, meaning it causes cancer cells to self destruct.”

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/05/04/iodine-deficiency-affect-childs-brain-function.aspx
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/06/27/foods-good-for-thyroid.aspx

Leslie

Are you sure cabbage contains vitamin D, or was that perhaps a typographical error on #10?

Ruby Thompson

Excellent article. I love cabbage and have eaten much over the years: raw, steamed, sautéed and cooked. I have never had a problem with my thyroid. It is an excellent source of fiber, vitamins and minerals. I agree that it is one of the healthiest and affordable foods.

Dale Hoover

People: NEVER eat any cruciferous vegs. RAW as in that form they are all anti-thyroid. They all must be well-cooked for this reason (which will destroy most of their vitamin C). So, NO cole slaw. Author mentions “vitamin B,” – which? There are several. Author needs to expand greatly her information regarding nutrition before submitting articles anywhere.

Susan Higgins

Hello Dale Hoover, Thank you for your note. We have adjusted the story to clarify which B vitamins, however, many people enjoy raw cruciferous vegetables — they’re some of the healthiest foods out there. One doctor explained “if a person’s thyroid disorder is not caused by iodine deficiency, the iodine blocking properties of cruciferous vegetables are nothing to worry about (especially if the person is eating a nutrient dense diet that contains natural sources of iodine and selenium). He estimates that over 90% of thyroid patients have autoimmune thyroid disease and not simply low thyroid function because of iodine deficiency so cruciferous vegetables are almost always a non-issue.” We recommend people with thyroid issues talk to their doctor.

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