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Chinese CabbageThe Cabbage family is an excellent source of nutrients which have been shown to be useful at helping prevent cancer. Cabbage also contains healthy amounts of the essential fatty acid, Omega 3, and it can assist in reducing cholesterol levels which can help maintain the health of your heart.
There are three main reasons researchers have suggested cabbage helps prevent cancer. Firstly, cabbage is a good source of the antioxidants vitamins A and C. These antioxidants clean up free radicals that are the natural outcome of processing oxygen. However without antioxidants to ‘mop’ them up they can cause cellular damage which can lead to cancerous activity. Secondly cabbage contains notable amounts of the compounds polyphenols that can be an effective means of controlling inflammation. Much of our day to day lifestyle and diet causes stress on our system which provokes an inflammatory response. Excessive inflammation is considered a state more inclined to be vulnerable to the development of cancer.
Polyphenols are suggested by some researchers as helping reduce inflammation. Thirdly, cabbage is a source of unique anti-cancer nutrients called glucosinolates. These have been shown to have unique abilities in affecting how cells signal each other in terms of activities that control inflammation, and they have also been shown to help reduce toxicity in cells.
Cabbage also helps maintain cardiovascular health by encouraging the flow of bile which facilitates the clearing of cholesterol out of our system. Essentially bile is used to break down fats in our digestive system. The fiber in cabbage encourages the used bile to leave our system, as opposed to being reabsorbed alongwith the fats it helped to break down. This requires the formation of new replacement bile of which cholesterol is a component. More bile means more cholesterol is required, which effectively reduces systematic cholesterol levels.
Cabbage is also an unexpected source of the essential fatty acid, Omega 3 which is critical for maintaining neurological health and reducing inflammation. Green leafy vegetables contain Alpha linolenic acid of the Omega 3 family which can form the essential fatty acid DHA which is the key fatty acid for brain health and a key anti inflammatory nutrient.
Information supplied by Steph Askeur |