Braised cabbage is a part of so many people’s Christmas dinners. But, we think it’s the green bean casserole of Christmas — you love it or hate it. Some people swear you can’t have a true Christmas feast without the vibrant red dish on your plate. Others won’t go near the serving platter.
Whether or not you want to eat braised cabbage, adding more red cabbage to your diet can help your blood sugar! The more colorful cabbage has higher antioxidants, magnesium and calcium levels than green cabbage. And it’s usually sweeter with a peppery taste. A cup of either has 28 calories, seven grams of carbs and two grams of fiber. They have almost a third of your daily vitamin K and over half of your vitamin C. Red cabbage has 10 times more vitamin A than green. (https://blackdoctor.org/purple-cabbage-vs-green-cabbage/) Red cabbage also has double the amount of iron.
Red cabbage is better than green for people with blood sugar concerns because it contains anthocyanins that lower blood sugar and increase insulin production. On Monday, we were talking about the benefits of beets. We talked about how phytonutrients in beets help fight inflammation. The same phytonutrients are present in red cabbage, meaning they offer the same anti-inflammatory properties.
When it comes to inflammation, red cabbage is a powerhouse. In a study, red cabbage reduced the markers of gut inflammation by 22 to 40 percent. It even works topically. People with arthritis in their knees who wrapped their knees in cabbage leaves once a day reported less pain at the end of four weeks. However, the leaves were less effective than a pain gel.
While braising cabbage might be a dish saved for holidays — and a side not everyone likes — it’s an easy vegetable to enjoy! You can have it raw or cooked. It’s terrific in salads, on wraps or in coleslaw. It’s fantastic in a stir-fry, a dumpling or a soup. You can even ferment your own kimchi or pickle it at home!
With its excellent carb-to-fiber ratio and ability to aid blood sugar, many people could benefit from eating more cabbage. The fact that red cabbage fights inflammation so effectively is wonderful and still being explored. Even if the braised cabbage at your Christmas meal is something you give a pass to, eating more cabbage in general is a great idea. Just because one dish isn’t your favorite doesn’t mean the vegetable isn’t delightful. So, eat more red cabbage this winter for your blood sugar and overall health!
