Nutrition and precautions regarding cabbage
Not everyone is suited to eating cabbage.
Nutritional composition mentioned
According to modern medical research, cabbage provides many nutrients that a person needs daily for functioning, development, and boosting immunity. The nutritional composition and vitamin content in cabbage are 4.5 times higher than in carrots and 3.6 times higher than in potatoes. In addition, vitamin A and P in cabbage combine to make blood vessel walls more durable.
Notably, cabbage also contains anti-cancer substances such as sulforaphane, phenethyl isothiocyanate, and indol-33 carbinol, which are very good for health.
Precautions for the thyroid and cold constitution
However, cabbage contains goitrin—a substance with antioxidant properties that can cause goiter. Therefore, medical experts recommend that people with thyroid disorders or goiter should not eat cabbage.
On the other hand, according to Eastern medicine, cabbage has cold properties. Therefore, those who are frail, have cold hands and feet, or suffer from conditions related to wind-cold should not eat cabbage, as it may worsen their illness. If you still want to eat cabbage, you can add a crushed slice of ginger and boil it together with the cabbage to help neutralize its cold nature.
Caution for kidney disease or digestive disorders
People with severe kidney failure should also avoid eating cabbage, as it contains quite a lot of oxalic acid. When consumed in excess, this oxalic acid can combine with essential nutrients in the body such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium to form oxalate salts, which can accumulate in the kidneys and increase the risk of developing kidney stones.
Furthermore, a benefit of cabbage is that it is rich in fiber, which aids bowel regularity and prevents constipation. However, if people experiencing diarrhea eat too much of this vegetable, it can worsen the condition and make it more difficult to treat.
In addition, cabbage easily produces gas and can cause bloating if eaten raw, so people with stomachaches, frequent abdominal distension, or flatulence should limit eating raw cabbage and ensure it is cooked instead.