There are various diet foods that are available in the market, all claiming to provide a permanent relief from weight loss issues. Besides being horrendously expensive, they all have long term side effects. Though they claim to have only natural ingredients, the percentages of these natural ingredients are low enough to be negligible (at least in most cases). The next time you want to have loose weight, look in your kitchen for a natural source which includes vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.

Cabbage – Health benefits

Unless it’s a part of cheese and mayonnaise laden burger or a salad, cabbage is never a welcome addition to anyone’s diet. Being a vegetable that is rarely appreciated, little do the people know that this light green vegetable is a true dieter’s friend. Besides having a distinct, delightful flavor, it is also one of the leafiest vegetables around. Dishing up various recipes that comprise of this vegetable will help keep the taste alive and at the same time will be a natural and yummy source to flatten the tummy. Some of the major health benefits of this vegetable are:

• Fiber- It’s a rich source of fiber which adds bulk to the food and makes the person feel full. Fiber also helps is easy digestion of food and at the same time decreases the chances of constipation.
• Vitamin C- While dieting, this vitamin keeps the person energized. It also helps in absorption of iron and helps to keep the skin and hair healthy.
• Antioxidants- Savoy and bok choy are two types of cabbages that are rich in beta-carotene and antioxidants which help to fight breast cancer and heart diseases. These antioxidants also have anti-aging properties which keep the person young by fighting lines and wrinkles.
• Calcium- While dieting, most people are advised to refrain from consuming dairy products which may lead to calcium deficiency. Cabbage is a healthy alternative to dairy products as it is rich in calcium and ensures that you have healthy bones and teeth. It also helps to avoid osteoporosis and helps to control blood pressure. A cabbage can provide almost 10 % of daily requirement of calcium.
• Phytochemicals- Having cabbage daily can also help to fight breast cancer as it contains indoles which are similar to estrogen in properties.

Types of cabbages

• Green cabbage- This is the most popular form of cabbage with high nutritional value. It is pale green in color with high with high fiber content
• Red cabbage- It belongs to the same family as green cabbage but is richer in vitamin C than other cabbages.
• Savoy cabbage- This is dark green in color, loose, ruffled and has a veined appearance. It has 10 times more beta-carotene than other cabbages.
• Napa cabbage- This Chinese cabbage has the same nutritional value as green cabbage.
• Pak-choi- This is a dark green cabbage which is again a rich source of beta-carotene.

To make the most of cabbages, it’s best to have them when they are fresh and crispy with few loose leaves.

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