The standard form of cabbage is the green cabbage. Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t know which one to pick between a red and green cabbage? Let’s throw some light into why you should pick up the red cabbage the next time you see one.
Often used in salads, red cabbage, also known as purple cabbage, is very nutritious. It can be used in various cuisines through many different recipes and utilized to avail the red cabbage benefits. It is also known to be better in terms of nutrition than green cabbage. Red cabbage is a storehouse of all vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, and all other nutrients that the body needs.
Facts About Red Cabbage
- The red color in cabbage comes from the flavonoid called anthocyanin in it.
- Red cabbage, if taken every day, can lower down your chances of suffering from cancer.
- It helps in improving gut health. It is fibrous; meaning helps to get rid of toxins from the body.
- Red cabbage has often been used in kitchen experiments to differentiate between acids and bases.
- It is used as a natural dye in food and clothes. How interesting is that?
- Red cabbage juice benefits women by its ability to kill cancer cells and preventing breast cancer.
How Red Cabbage Works on Our Bodies
Red cabbage health benefits are beyond our expectations.
It boosts the immune system. It contains Vitamin C, an antioxidant that works on increasing the immunity of our body. Red cabbage tops the chart as a vegetable rich in Vitamin C(1) and is known as a primary immune booster. It helps the body to fight free radical damage, and this strengthens our body’s immunity power.
Red cabbage benefits also include its ability to reduce inflammation and treat arthritis. It contains phytonutrients that help to reduce chronic inflammation. Sulforaphane, a compound found in many cruciferous vegetables and also in Red cabbage, acts as an inflammation killer.
Red Cabbages make our bones healthy and reduce osteoporosis. Red cabbage is rich in Vitamin K, and we all know how it benefits our body. Vitamin K works in our body by increasing the protein that maintains our body’s bone calcium, thus preventing osteoporosis. If you follow an osteoporosis diet, you might want to add this to it.
Red cabbage may also improve the functioning of your heart. As it contains anthocyanins(2), that gives the cabbage its red color and is known to maintain blood pressure. It is a healthy heart compound, as well.
Red cabbage nutrition facts – Red cabbage is rich in nutrients like B complex vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Potassium, Calcium, and fiber.
[Read: Benefits of Green Leafy Vegetables]
Best Methods To Consume Red Cabbage
For Red Cabbage Benefits, You Can Try These Recipes
1. Sweet and Sour Cabbage for a Low-Calorie Diet
Things you will need
2tbsp butter, 3 tbsp sugar, Red cabbage- thinly sliced 7 cups, Balsamic vinegar-1/4 cup, pine nuts- a handful
Method
Take a large saucepan and melt the butter in it. Add the cabbage to the pan and sauté for a bit. Cover and cook so that it gets well cooked by adding some sugar and vinegar. Reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for a bit. Remove, season with pinenuts and serve.
2. Sauteed Cabbage
Method
Heat a skillet and add oil to it. Temper using mustard seeds and add chopped onion and sauté. Add the cabbage and sauté until it gets cooked for five minutes. Then Sprinkle sugar and turn the cabbage. Now, add salt and cover and cook. Sprinkle water if needed.
Once off the flame, add some pepper and Serve.
[Read: Benefits of Cabbage Juice]
3. Red Cabbage Coleslaw
This recipe is excellent and can be used as a filling for sandwiches.
Method
Chop cabbage into thin shreds, and onions. Add Mayonaise, Apple Cider Vinegar, Salt, and Pepper. Mix it properly. Take two bread slices. Apply as a layer on it; you can add some shredded cheese and grill it. The lip-smacking sandwich is ready.
4. Crunchy Cabbage Salad for High Fibre
Things you will need
350 gm red cabbage, 2 grated carrots,10 gm parsley, roughly chopped, 2 apples, peeled and sliced, 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts,1 tsp pumpkin seeds,2 tsp sunflower seeds, tsp grated ginger,2 tsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp honey, and 4 tbsp olive oil.
Method
Once your ingredients are ready, put them in a large bowl and mix them. Take the ingredients for the dressing and mix in another bowl. Pour it over the salad and give it the right mix. Serve.
Mothers can utilize the red cabbage benefits for their fussy eater by serving them red cabbage coleslaw sandwiches or Frankies.
Red cabbage is known to have more benefits compared to green cabbage. Red cabbage is a vegetable that’s versatile and very pocket-friendly that you can add to your daily diet in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Eat it raw, slow cook it with meats, or add it to your salads. Make sure the next time you go shopping, you get this Red cabbage home.
