Cabbage posses a armory of medicinal characteristics. It has been reported to improve bone and colon health, fight inflammation, treat digestive issues, as well as assist in relieving peptic ulcers, as previously noted. Here Alina Petre, MS, RD, HealthLine.com, reflects on impressive benefits of purple cabbage:

“Purple cabbage, also referred to as red cabbage, belongs to the Brassica genus of plants. This group includes nutrient-dense vegetables, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and kale.

It tastes similar to green cabbage. However, the purple variety is richer in beneficial plant compounds that have been linked to health benefits, such as stronger bones and a healthier heart.

Purple cabbage is also thought to lower inflammation and protect against certain types of cancers. Moreover, it’s an incredibly versatile vegetable that can be enjoyed raw, cooked, or fermented and added to a variety of dishes.

Here are 8 impressive health benefits of purple cabbage, all backed by science.

Rich in nutrients

Despite being low in calories, purple cabbage contains an impressive amount of nutrients.

One cup (89 grams) of chopped, raw, purple cabbage contains the following nutrients (1):

• Calories: 28
• Protein: 1 gram
• Carbs: 7 grams
• Fiber: 2 grams
• Vitamin C: 56% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Vitamin K: 28% of the DV
• Vitamin B6: 11% of the DV
• Vitamin A: 6% of the DV
• Potassium: 5% of the DV
• Thiamine: 5% of the DV
• Riboflavin: 5% of the DV

Purple cabbage also provides small amounts of iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc.

Boast powerful plant compounds

Purple cabbage is a great source of antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds that help protect against cellular damage.

Its antioxidants include vitamin C, carotenoids, and flavonoid antioxidants, such as anthocyanins and kaempferol. In fact, it often contains higher amounts of these than green cabbage (2).

For instance, research suggests that the antioxidant levels in purple cabbage are around 4.5 times higher than those found in green cabbage varieties (1, 3, 4Trusted Source).

What’s more, purple cabbage is one of the foods that offers the highest levels of antioxidants per unit cost (4Trusted Source).

It’s also a good source of sulforaphane, a sulfur-rich compound that forms when raw cabbage is cut or crushed. Sulforaphane is linked to powerful heart health benefits and cancer-fighting properties (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).

May protect against certain cancers

Purple cabbage may help protect against certain types of cancers, though more research in humans is needed.

Experts believe this may be because it contains sulforaphane and anthocyanins — two compounds researched for their cancer-fighting properties.

Research links high intakes of cruciferous vegetables, including cabbage, to an 18% lower risk of colon cancer. Diets rich in cruciferous vegetables have also been linked to a lower risk of breast cancer (20Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).

Moreover, there’s evidence to suggest that the sulforaphane found in purple cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables may help kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing and spreading (22Trusted Source).

Cell and animal studies suggest that anthocyanins may have similar anti-cancer effects. Anthocyanins are found in red, blue, and purple fruits and vegetables, including purple cabbage (23Trusted Source).

However, more human research is needed before strong conclusions can be made.”

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Read More … Article Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/purple-cabbage#section6