The health benefits of cabbage [1] have been known for a long time, and it is not for nothing that it is considered the queen of vitamins. Beautiful and juicy, tasty not only fresh but also sauerkraut, it is used for a huge number of dishes. Cabbage is stored all winter without losing its taste and useful properties.People actively use cabbage not only for food, but also for treating a variety of ailments.

Cabbage Properties

Benefits of cabbageIt’s no secret that cabbage is essentially a small pharmacy. Its leaves contain many vitamins, fiber, sugar, minerals, and organic acids. By the way, it has more well-known vitamin C [2] than, for example, lemons or tangerines; if we compare it to carrots, the difference is tenfold. To cover the human norm of vitamin C, it is enough to eat only about 200 grams.

In addition, this plant is rich in vitamins B1, B2, and PP. Plus, it contains a lot of phosphorus, calcium, potassium salts, and more. The composition of trace elements is also extensive: aluminum, zinc, manganese, and copper. And in terms of glucose content—2.7%—it surpasses lemons, apples, and oranges. We should also emphasize its low caloric content (27 kcal), which is relevant for people who are losing weight. It has the following nutritional value: 1.8 g of protein, 0.1 g of fat, and 6.7 g of carbohydrates.[3]

Cabbage Nutrition Data

Nutritional value per 100g:


Key substances per 100g.
Water 92,18g.
Proteins 1.28 g
Fats 0,1 g
Ash 0,64 g
Carbohydrates 5.8 g
Fiber 2.5 g
Sugars, total 3.2 g
Sucrose 0.08 g
Glucose (dextrose) 1.67 g
Fructose 1.45 g
Maltose 0.01 g


Minerals per 100g.
Calcium, Ca 40 mg
Iron, Fe 0.47 mg
Magnesium, Mg 12 mg
Phosphorus, P 26 mg
Potassium, K 170 mg
Sodium, Na 18 mg
Zinc, Zn 0.18 mg
Copper, Cu 0.019 mg
Manganese, Mn 0.16 mg
Selenium, Se 0.3 µg
Fluorine, F 1 µg


Health Benefits of Cabbage

The medicinal properties of green cabbage have been recognized by absolutely all physicians in the world. This is one of the few plants that is safe for almost everyone on the planet. The systematic use of this vegetable normalizes the work of the whole body, making it work like a Swiss watch. Thanks to cabbage:

Health benefits of cabbage
  • lowers blood sugar; [4]
  • the growth of cancerous tumors is slowed;
  • the work of the liver improves;
  • The work of the cardiovascular system is normalized; [5]
  • cholesterol and other toxins are removed from the body. [6]

In addition to the leaves themselves, you can use cabbage juice; it helps: [7]

you can use cabbage juice
  • in the treatment of coughs and bronchitis;
  • problems with urination;
  • acne or blackheads on the skin (as a lotion).

The Health Benefits of Cabbage for Women and Men

When consumed regularly, the vegetable has a beneficial effect on the human body as a whole. The balanced complex of amino acids and vitamins ensures the following results:

  1. Strengthens the body’s defenses by boosting the immune system; [8]
  2. Significantly reduces the likelihood of getting cancer. In men, of the prostate gland, and in women, of the breast; [9]
  3. Normalizes the concentration of cholesterol in the blood;
  4. Increases blood circulation;
  5. Enriches the blood, greatly increasing hemoglobin;
  6. Draws out excess fluid from the body;
  7. Normalises blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes, reducing the need for sweets;
  8. Staphylococcus aureus and tubercle bacillus are killed.
  9. Heals the digestive system’s microflora and halts the putrefaction process in the intestines;
  10. Improves the condition of gums and teeth;
  11. Helps people get rid of excess weight.

Benefits for Pregnant Women and During Lactation

Benefits for pregnant womenPregnant women and those breastfeeding their babies should definitely include white cabbage in their diet. The only problem in this case may be flatulence. For this reason, during the period of childbirth, a woman is recommended to use the product in sauerkraut [10] form or after heat treatment. The benefits of braised cabbage for the body are also undeniable.

It is recommended to drink fresh cabbage juice daily on an empty stomach, combined with a little honey. This drink will prepare the woman’s body for the forthcoming childbirth, reduce irritability and tearfulness, and increase stress resistance.

Expert opinion
Adelaida Williams
Nutritionist with over 11 years' experience
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Women in the lactation period are advised to eat well – chopped leaves before the first juice appears. This will allow the excess milk to drain away and get rid of the distended sensation in the breasts.

For the Child’s Health

Competent specialists recommend introducing white cabbage [11] to infants from five months of age when they are fed artificially, and from six months of age when they are fed.

Regular consumption of the product will help to prevent the development:

  • dysbacteriosis; [12]
  • stomatitis;
  • rickets.

Medicinal properties of green cabbageFor the youngest babies, it is advisable to boil the raw head first and then use a blender to puree it, adding a small amount of breast milk or the usual formula.

Once you have become accustomed to it, milk and formula can be omitted. Because mashed cabbage is effective at removing poisons and toxins [13] from the baby’s body, it is particularly useful for both the treatment and the treatment:

  • Atopic dermatitis;
  • food allergies;
  • diathesis.

Expert opinion
Adelaida Williams
Nutritionist with over 11 years' experience
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After one year of age, your child should be given vegetable stews and soups with added cabbage. From the age of two, fresh vegetable salads with added oil should be given. This will normalize the gastrointestinal tract, provide the necessary exercise for the chewing muscles, and improve dental enamel, helping to prevent tooth decay.

In Old Age

Cabbage in old ageDue to the tartaric acid content of white cabbage, the vegetable has a rejuvenating and anti-sclerotic effect. Please note that tartaric acid decomposes after heat treatment.

In old age, it is recommended to eat a daily cabbage salad with the addition of amaranth or grape seed oil. If a person is unable to chew on their own, juice combined with oil should be drunk. This results in vivacity and lightness; vessels are purified, and cholesterol and stools are normalized.

Sauerkraut is excellent for preventing aging. They free your body from free radicals and promote the absorption of animal protein.

Harms and Contraindications

It is harmful to eat too much kale, just as it is harmful to overeat in general. Too much kohlrabi in the body will lead to flatulence, nausea, bloating, and pain. This is due to the action of high levels of fiber. This should be borne in mind by people who want to lose extra pounds with cabbage. It is worth noting that the benefits and harms of blue cabbage, as well as those of other varieties, are of a similar nature.

Contraindications to use include the following:


Green Cabbage

  • enterocolitis, pancreatitis;
  • Increased intestinal peristalsis;
  • bleeding in the intestine or stomach;
  • Acute intestinal or stomach ulcers (you can make cabbage juice, but you should not drink it without consulting your doctor first).


Using Green Cabbage in Cooking

Cooking green cabbageNaturally, the main benefit from the cabbage will be if you eat it raw; in this case, a person gets absolutely all the useful vitamins and minerals. As for the heat treatment of the vegetable, we recommend that you cook it in such a way that it remains slightly raw, because during cooking, due to the impact of high temperatures, many useful substances are destroyed. It is also desirable to avoid cooking on an open fire, as it is practiced in some cuisines around the world.

Cabbage for weight loss

Given its high folate and nicotinic acid content and low calories, the vegetable is actively used in low-carb diets, both on its own and as a side dish.

The cabbage diet can be undertaken once a week. You should eat a salad of fresh leaves seasoned with lemon juice throughout the day. Note that the salad should be prepared without salt.

Expert opinion
Adelaida Williams
Nutritionist with over 11 years' experience
Ask an expert question
Another 100 grams of black bread or two eggs may be eaten during the day. A glass of tomato juice won’t ruin your night. This diet will allow you to lose up to two kilos during the day.


Warning: The information is for information purposes only and is not intended as a diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a physician!

Rules for selecting and storing cabbage

The main points worth considering when choosing sprouts are:

  • Check that the fruit is fully formed;
  • No pest damage (caterpillars or slugs);
  • Density and tightness to the touch;
  • No damage by disease or bacteria;
  • No mechanical damage.
  • Temperatures are in the region of -1 to +1 degrees Celsius;
  • The air humidity is 80-90%;

White cabbage is suitable for storage under different conditions, which also have a direct influence on how long the cabbage will remain edible.

10 Interesting Facts About Cabbage

  1. About 200g of fresh cabbage is enough to cover a person’s daily requirement for vitamin C.
  2. The useful properties of cabbage are much more pronounced when it is in a sauerkraut state.
  3. The most harmful and therefore useless element of the cabbage is the core, as it is there that all harmful substances accumulate.
  4. Sauerkraut helps the intestines normalize the bacterial count. It contains a lot of lactic acid, which improves gastrointestinal function by preserving healthy bacteria.
  5. To grow a good cabbage, several conditions need to be met. Firstly, this vegetable requires a lot of water. Secondly, it is advisable to fertilize the plant with nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous during growth. If you follow these recommendations, you will end up with a great product that is rich in a variety of vitamins (B6, B9, C, and K), minerals, and beneficial elements.
  6. Cabbage contains a lot of sulphur, which promotes the production of keratin in the human body, which in turn improves and strengthens nails, hair, and skin.
  7. The percentage of liquid content is very high—91%. With 95%, it is only second to cucumbers.
  8. Cabbage juice is an effective anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial.
  9. The location where the cabbage first appeared has not been established to this day. Scientists have speculated that Asia is the most likely place, but it is difficult to say for sure.
  10. The wild counterpart of the cabbage has not yet been found, nor have the time and place where the garden cabbage was grown been determined.

Frequent questions

Is it healthy to eat cabbage everyday

Because of the vitamins and health benefits of cabbage, it can be eaten every day

Is it safe to can cabbage?

Yes, canning cabbage is possible, it retains its useful properties

Should i eat cabbage raw or cooked?

Can be eaten in any form, but depending on the recipes, the cabbage loses its healthy vitamins

Benefits cabbage soup diet?

The benefits of the cabbage and soup diet are that you do not need to put your body under stress or strain

Can I freeze cabbage?

Yes, cabbage can be stored as a leaf or whole, having first cut off the stalk and part of the cabbage.

«Important: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only. Please consult a health care professional before implementing any recommendations. «Neither the editors nor the authors are responsible for any possible harm caused by the materials.»