Chinese cabbage: benefits and harms, chemical composition, contraindications, rules of use

Content

1 Chemical composition of Chinese cabbage
2 What are the benefits of Chinese cabbage?
- 2.1 What are the benefits of Chinese cabbage for a woman’s body?
- 2.2 What are the benefits of Chinese cabbage for men?
3 Harm of Chinese cabbage
4 Contraindications for Chinese cabbage
5 Rules for eating Chinese cabbage
6 The use of Chinese cabbage in folk medicine
7 Chinese cabbage for pregnant women
8 Is it possible to have Chinese cabbage while breastfeeding?
9 Conclusion
10 Reviews about the benefits and harms of Chinese cabbage

Pekin cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. Pekinensis) is a leafy vegetable from the Brassica family and is a subspecies of the common turnip. The benefits and harms of Chinese cabbage have been known since ancient times - it has been mentioned in Chinese written sources since the 5th century AD, and the history of its cultivation goes back five thousand years. The vegetable was not only a valuable food product, but also a source of healing oil. In the mid-70s of the last century, with the development of new, stem-resistant and high-yielding varieties, Western countries, including the USA and Europe, showed interest in the crop. Russians also liked the special taste of Chinese cabbage, its valuable nutritional properties and ease of cultivation.

Chinese cabbage is often called Chinese lettuce, but it has nothing to do with the real plant from the Asteraceae family.

Chemical composition of Chinese cabbage

The rich biochemical composition of Beijing salad elevates it to the rank of valuable products, used not only for food, but also for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Thus, the vitamin C content in Chinese cabbage is 2 times higher than in white cabbage. And the amount of carotene in 100 g of product satisfies the body’s daily requirement by 50%. Beijing salad contains the following elements:

trace elements – iron, copper, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, selenium, sulfur, chlorine, iodine;
vitamins – B_2-9, C, PP, P, E, alpha and beta carotene, A and extremely rare K;
alimentary fiber;
proteins, lutein, betaine, lysine;
carbohydrates, sugars;
fats and ash substances.

For all its nutritional value, Beijing salad is a low-calorie product that is excellent for dietary nutrition.

Comment! Peking cabbage is excellently stored fresh during the winter. Even by spring, the vitamin content in it remains high, which distinguishes it from other vegetables.

What are the benefits of Chinese cabbage?

Nutritionists recommend consuming vegetables as a source of vitamins and dietary fiber. The beneficial effects of Chinese salad on the human body can hardly be overestimated. It is especially useful in the winter season, during the spring-autumn period of vitamin deficiencies and frequent colds. Chinese cabbage has the following properties:

removes toxins and toxic substances from the body, helps cleanse and normalize the intestines;
stabilizes metabolism, hormonal levels, rejuvenates;
stimulates the gastrointestinal tract;
has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, nails and hair, making them healthier;
has adaptogenic properties, relieves insomnia and chronic fatigue syndrome, relieves the effects of stress and depression;
strengthens and restores the immune system, is an excellent preventative against colds;
for type 2 diabetes, Chinese cabbage normalizes the amount of sugar in the blood, reduces the need for synthesized insulin, and alleviates the general condition;
normalizes high blood pressure in hypertension;
increases appetite, normalizes liver function;
removes excess water from the body, increases the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood.

Attention! The white parts of the plant contain the largest amount of nutrients and vitamins, so they should not be thrown away.

In Korea, Chinese cabbage is fermented with hot spices and herbs to create a dish called kimchi.

What are the benefits of Chinese cabbage for a woman’s body?

For beautiful women, this vegetable is a unique source of youth and beauty. The benefits of Chinese cabbage for weight loss are recognized by nutritionists around the world. In addition, Chinese salad can be used for the following purposes:

cleansing the body of toxins;
getting rid of swelling;
giving the skin a healthy appearance, elasticity, getting rid of wrinkles;
strengthening hair, restoring its glossy shine;
fresh juice perfectly rejuvenates and cleanses the skin, eliminates acne;
You can wipe your face with frozen juice cubes.

Cabbage slows down the absorption of fats and carbohydrates, which helps fight excess weight.

What are the benefits of Chinese cabbage for men?

Chinese cabbage restores the functioning of the genitourinary system:

normalizes kidney and bladder functions;
relieves inflammation, including of the prostate gland;
increases sensitivity during sexual intercourse;
prevents premature ejaculation.

In addition, Chinese cabbage is excellent for getting rid of “beer belly” and strengthening the body.

Harm of Chinese cabbage

Despite all its benefits, Chinese cabbage can provoke an exacerbation of certain diseases. These include chronic gastrointestinal ailments - pancreatitis, gastritis with high acidity, peptic ulcers, the threat of intestinal bleeding. In addition, this vegetable should not be consumed in combination with drugs or products that thin the blood, such as acetylsalicylic acid. You should refrain from eating dishes with Chinese cabbage if you have colic or flatulence. It should not be combined with any dairy or fermented milk products - this can lead to severe stomach upset and diarrhea.

Important! The daily intake of vegetables for an adult is 150 g 3 times a week, for a child – from 30 to 100 g, depending on age.

Contraindications for Chinese cabbage

Chinese cabbage has a number of contraindications for use in food:

gastritis with high acidity;
pancreatitis, colitis;
ulcers of the stomach and duodenum;
tendency to internal bleeding, menstruation period in women;
poisoning, diarrhea, infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - dysentery, rotavirus.

Advice! You should choose whole heads of cabbage, bright green with white or slightly creamy fleshy parts. The leaves should be elastic, with a natural smell and taste.

Rules for eating Chinese cabbage

Chinese cabbage can be eaten fresh, for making salads, snacks, and sandwiches. It is permissible to steam, boil, ferment and marinate, and bake. During heat treatment, all beneficial substances are preserved.

Chinese salad goes well with herbs, lemon and apple juice, celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, seeds, citrus fruits and apples. You can make cabbage rolls, soups, stews.

Cabbage juice is an excellent source of vitamins and microelements. The recommended volume is no more than 100 ml per day, on an empty stomach, 30-40 minutes before meals.

Important! You cannot season Chinese cabbage with sour cream or stew it with cream.

Excellent dietary dinner: salad of Chinese cabbage, herbs and apple or lemon juice

The use of Chinese cabbage in folk medicine

Chinese salad has healing properties. Traditional healers recommend using it for the following ailments:

A decoction of 80 g of lettuce and 180 ml of water helps against insomnia; they should be boiled over low heat for half an hour and taken at night;
for bronchial asthma, you can prepare a decoction of the seeds - 10 g per 125 ml of boiling water, keep in a water bath for half an hour and drink half a glass twice a day;
compress for inflammation and swelling of the eyelids from cabbage juice and cold-pressed olive oil in equal proportions for 20 minutes;
Scabies and mastopathy will be cured by a salad of Chinese cabbage with vegetable oil.

Regular consumption of this vegetable is the key to long life and good health.

Chinese cabbage for pregnant women

Chinese cabbage is recommended for pregnant women to eat. It saturates the body with essential biologically active substances. Normalizes weight and relieves swelling. Improves mood, gives strength and vigor.

Important! Folic acid contained in Chinese cabbage prevents the risk of developing abnormalities in the fetus.

Is it possible to have Chinese cabbage while breastfeeding?

Consumption during breastfeeding improves milk separation, significantly increases its quantity and nutritional properties. Within 7-10 months after childbirth, Beijing salad must be steamed or boiled. Such food retains all the beneficial substances, but does not stimulate gas formation and colic in the baby. After this period, you can add small portions of fresh vegetables to your diet.

Important! The daily norm for nursing and pregnant women is no more than 150-200 g.

Beijing salad does not cause allergic reactions, it helps remove allergens from the body

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of Chinese cabbage have been known to mankind for more than five thousand years. Modern research confirms that green vegetables actually have a beneficial effect on the body, stimulating metabolic processes, improving blood composition, and clearing away accumulated harmful substances. The presence of Beijing salad on the family table at least 2-3 times a week significantly improves health and gives the body the strength to fight seasonal colds and stress. The vegetable is also recommended for pregnant and lactating women.

Reviews about the benefits and harms of Chinese cabbage

Sergeeva Marina Vitalievna, 36 years old, Kostroma.

My husband and I started growing Chinese cabbage at our dacha on the advice of our parents. Both we and the children really liked the vegetable with its delicate taste, almost completely replacing regular white cabbage on the table. We also drank freshly squeezed juice 1-2 times a week, not more often. We felt an improvement in our health already with the onset of winter - we began to get sick much less often, although the winter turned out to be quite cold. In addition, I felt more energetic and became less tired and nervous, which could not but affect my general condition.Now we always have Chinese salad on the table, and for winter I ferment part of the harvest.

Nezasypny Vladimir Ivanovich, 59 years old, Nizhny Tagil.

I read about this leafy vegetable on the Internet. I decided to try to grow it on my own plot, it was highly praised: it’s good for the heart, and for the stomach, and against colds. I really liked the taste, much more delicate than the usual cabbage. My wife makes a stew out of it, cooks the cabbage soup, and crumbles the green leaves into the salad. I’ll say right away that the leaves helped me with personal problems, I began to feel much better, the frequent night trips to the toilet stopped, my muscles became stronger.

Chinese cabbage: health benefits and harm, chemical composition