Purple cabbage, also known as red cabbage, is a nutritional powerhouse. It's chock-full of health benefits and has only 28 calories per cup. According to Mashed, it reduces inflammation and helps build strong bones. Purple cabbage is also a great source of fiber, potassium, thiamine, and riboflavin, according to Healthline.
Here are more health benefits:
- It's packed with vitamin C. Vitamin C helps the body make collagen, which is critical to the skin and important for the proper function of bones, muscles, and blood vessels.
- It helps digestion. Fiber-rich cabbage has gut-friendly insoluble fiber that adds bulk to stools and promotes regular bowel movements.
- Purple cabbage is heart-healthy. This colorful vegetable contains anthocyanins that are responsible for its vibrant color. According to Healthline, many studies have linked eating foods with this pigment to a reduced risk of heart disease.
- Eating cabbage may lower blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke because it contains potassium. Many experts say that increasing your dietary intake of this mineral is as important as reducing salt intake to help regulate blood pressure.
- It could also lower cholesterol levels. The fiber in cabbage may help lower the levels of "bad" cholesterol, or LDL, by absorbing it in the digestive tract.
- Cabbage contains a wealth of vitamin K that is vital for blood clotting. Without vitamin K, the risk of excessive bleeding increases, according to Healthline.