Healthy Japanese Winter Vegetable: Hakusai (Chinese Napa Cabbage).

Author.

?Hranush H. Arakelyan .

?M.D. ,Ph.D,Fine Art Painter,?Artist.

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?“Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food.”

?“Hippocrates”

?Introduction.

Napa cabbage is a type of Chinese cabbage originating near the Beijing region of China that is widely used in East Asian cuisine. Since the 20th century, it has also become a widespread crop in Europe, the Americas and Australia. In much of the world, it is referred to as "Chinese cabbage". The first records of napa cabbage cultivation date back to the 15th century in the?Yangtze River?region in China. From China it later spread to Korea and Japan.?

Health Benefits of Japanese Hakusai.

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·?????????????1.Japanese Hakusai Is Packed With Nutrients.

·????????It may Help Keep Inflammation in Check. ...

·????????Cabbage Is Packed With Vitamin C. ...

·????????It Helps Improve Digestion. ...

·????????May Help Keep Your Heart Healthy. ...

·????????May Lower Blood Pressure. ...

·????????Could Help Lower Cholesterol Levels. ...

·????????Cabbage Is an Excellent Source of Vitamin K.

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Even though cabbage is very low in calories, it has an impressive nutrient profile.

In fact, just 1 cup (89 grams) of raw green cabbage contains :

Calories:?22

Protein:?1 gram

Fiber:?2 grams

Vitamin K:?85% of the RDI

Vitamin C:?54% of the RDI

Folate:?10% of the RDI

Manganese:?7% of the RDI

Vitamin B6:?6% of the RDI

Calcium:?4% of the RDI

Potassium:?4% of the RDI

Magnesium:?3% of the RDI

Cabbage also contains small amounts of other micronutrients, including vitamin A, iron and riboflavin.

As you can see in the list above, it is rich in vitamin B6 and folate, both of which are essential for many important processes in the body, including energy metabolism and the normal functioning of the nervous system.

In addition, cabbage is high in?fiber?and contains powerful antioxidants, including?polyphenols?and sulfur compounds .

Antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that have an odd number of electrons, making them unstable. When their levels become too high, they can damage your cells.

Cabbage is especially high in vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that may protect against heart disease, certain cancers and vision loss.

2. It May Help Keep Inflammation in Check.

Inflammation isn’t always a bad thing.

In fact, your body relies on the inflammatory response to protect against infection or speed up healing. This kind of acute inflammation is a normal response to an injury or infection.

On the other hand, chronic inflammation that occurs over a long period of time is associated with many diseases, including heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage contain many different antioxidants that have been shown to reduce chronic inflammation.

In fact, research has shown that eating more cruciferous vegetables reduces certain blood markers of inflammation .

One study including over 1,000 Chinese women showed that those who ate the highest amounts of cruciferous vegetables had considerably lower levels of inflammation, compared to those who ate the lowest amounts.

Sulforaphane, kaempferol and other antioxidants found in this remarkable group of plants are likely responsible for their anti-inflammatory effect.

3. Cabbage Is Packed With Vitamin C.

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a?water-soluble vitamin?that serves many important roles in the body.

For instance, it’s needed to make collagen, the most abundant protein in the body.?Collagen?gives structure and flexibility to the skin and is critical for the proper functioning of the bones, muscles and blood vessels.

Additionally, vitamin C helps the body absorb non-heme iron, the type of?iron found in plant foods.

What’s more, it’s a powerful antioxidant. In fact, it has been extensively researched for its potential cancer-fighting qualities (13).

Vitamin C works to protect the body from damage caused by free radicals, which has been associated with many chronic diseases, including cancer.

Evidence suggests that a diet high in vitamin-C-rich foods is associated with a lower risk of certain cancers.

In fact, a recent analysis of 21 studies found that the risk of lung cancer decreased by 7% for each daily 100-mg increase in vitamin C intake.

However, this study was limited because it could not determine whether the decreased risk of lung cancer was caused by vitamin C or other compounds found in fruits and vegetables.

While many observational studies have found a link between higher vitamin C intake and a reduced risk of certain cancers, results from controlled studies remain inconsistent.

Even though more research is needed to determine this vitamin’s role in cancer prevention, it’s certain that vitamin C plays a key role in many important functions in the body.

While both green and red cabbage are excellent sources of this potent antioxidant, red cabbage contains about 30% more.

One cup (89 grams) of chopped red cabbage packs in 85% of the recommended intake for vitamin C, which is the same amount found in a small orange.

4. It Helps Improve Digestion.

If you want to improve your digestive health, fiber-rich cabbage is the way to go.

This crunchy vegetable is full of gut-friendly?insoluble fiber, a type of carbohydrate that can’t be broken down in the intestines. Insoluble fiber helps keep the digestive system healthy by adding bulk to stools and promoting regular bowel movements.

What’s more, it’s rich in soluble fiber, which has been shown to increase the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut. This is because fiber is the main fuel source for friendly species like?Bifidobacteria?and?Lactobacilli.

These bacteria perform important functions like protecting the immune system and producing critical nutrients like vitamins K2 and B12.

Eating more cabbage is an excellent way to keep your digestive system healthy and happy.

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5. May Help Keep Your Heart Healthy.

Red cabbage contains powerful compounds called anthocyanins. They give this delicious vegetable its vibrant purple color.

Anthocyanins are plant pigments that belong to the flavonoid family.

Many studies have found a link between eating foods rich in this pigment and a reduced risk of heart disease.

In a study including 93,600 women, researchers found that those with a higher intake of anthocyanin-rich foods had a much lower risk of a heart attack.

?6. May Lower Blood Pressure.

High blood pressure affects more than one billion people worldwide and is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke .

Doctors often advise patients with high blood pressure to reduce their?salt intake. However, recent evidence suggests that increasing your dietary potassium is just as important for lowering blood pressure .

Potassium?is an important mineral and electrolyte that the body needs to function properly. One of its main jobs is to help regulate blood pressure by counteracting the effects of sodium in the body.

Potassium helps excrete excess sodium through urine. It also relaxes blood vessel walls, which lowers blood pressure.

While both sodium and potassium are important for health, modern diets tend to be too high in sodium and too low in potassium.

Red cabbage is an excellent source of potassium, delivering 12% of the RDI in a 2-cup (178-gram) serving.

Eating more potassium-rich cabbage is a delicious way to lower high blood pressure and may help keep it within a healthy range .

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7. Could Help Lower Cholesterol Levels.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in every cell in your body.

Some people think all cholesterol is bad, but it’s essential for the body’s proper functioning.

Critical processes depend on cholesterol, such as proper digestion and the synthesis of hormones and vitamin D.

However, people who have high cholesterol also tend to have an increased risk of heart disease, especially when they have elevated levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol.

Cabbage contains two substances that have been shown to decrease unhealthy levels of LDL cholesterol.

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If you have any questions?concerning?“Healthy Japanese Winter Vegetable: Hakusai (Chinese Napa Cabbage)” Please Unform me.

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Hranush H. Arakelyan

M.D. ,Ph.D,Fine Art Painter,?Artist.

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