The 10 Health Benefits of Chinese Cabbage

The Chinese cabbage or boc choy as it is known in Chinese has for generations been recognized as a popular health boosting vegetable and delicacy. This vegetable was initially grown in ancient China on the Yangtze River some 6,000 years ago, before it spread to Korea, Japan and ultimately to the West. Some of the common types of Chinese cabbage include; sweet bok choy, joi chai and dwarf bok choy among others. Chinese cabbage can be prepared raw as an exotic salad, smoothie, juice or cooked as a delicious dish. The vegetable offers a host of health benefits; from promoting weight loss and fitness to disease prevention.

The 10 health benefits of Chinese cabbage:

1. Helps build strong bones

New bone materials alongside Vitamin K and Calcium in Chinese cabbage play an important role of keeping the teeth and bones strong. Calcium also helps enhances nerve function while Vitamin K promotes fat breakdown and blood clotting. A cup of bok choy contains 64% Vitamin K and 16% Calcium.

2. Fights fatigue and anemia

Low levels of hemoglobin in the body can make you feel tired and less active. The high concentration of iron in Chinese cabbage helps the body produce hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin plays an important role of transporting oxygen throughout the body; this can go a long way to revitalize the body.

3. Helps regulate blood pressure

This vegetable is a rich source of Potassium and Calcium, which are crucial in reducing hypertension. Bok choy also contains low levels of Sodium which is associated with low pressure. Studies have shown that a reduction in sodium in the diet can lower the levels of blood pressure by up to 8mm Hg.

4. Cardiovascular health

This leafy and refreshing vegetable is also great for the heart. Chinese cabbage contains blood pressure reducing abilities, which is critical in regulating blood pressure.

5. Weight loss

Chinese cabbage contains low levels of calories despite packing huge amounts of fibre. Chinese cabbage as a dietary supplement can be taken with almost any meal without causing any serious caloric increment. This makes it an ideal natural aide for promoting and maintaining weight loss. One popular way to prepare Chinese cabbage is creating a green juice enriched with fruits such as strawberry, blueberries and banana.

6. Strengthen the immune system

Chinese cabbage is an important source of Vitamin C, which acts as a booster to the body’s defence mechanism. Vitamin C also helps the body fight various diseases and preventing infections such as Common cold and gum disease.

7. Eye health

Chinese cabbage is highly beneficial to the eyesight, since it contains an important ingredient called beta carotene that has been shown to prevent Macular Degeneration and cataracts.

8. Digestive health

Chinese cabbage is a rich source of fibre, which is critical in promoting healthy digestion. Sufficient consumption of fibre is also useful in eliminating accumulated waste from the body's digestive tract.

9. Helps combat skin infections and disorders

Chinese cabbage can help fight a host of skin infections, including eczema, acne and pimples because it contains crucial antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Some of the skin disorders that can be overcome by taking this cabbage include blemishes, wrinkles, skin discolorations and skin allergies. Chinese cabbage also helps reinvigorate the skin, making it soft and supple.

10. Promotes hair growth

The vitamins found in Chinese cabbage such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E have been shown to promote and maintain the growth of healthy hair. The vegetable also contains high quantities of iron, which helps increase the levels of ferritin in the body. Ferritin is known to fight frequent hair loss.