Chinese cabbage: useful properties and contraindications.

No supermarket or market today will not refuse the Chinese cabbage. The consumer has long appreciated its merits, so it is in wide demand.

What does the Chinese cabbage look like?

It draws attention with its elongated shape with funny curly leaves, thin and delicate. The 30-50 centimeter oblong-shaped cabbage is composed of tender yellow-green juicy leaves.

This vegetable is native to China. The locals loved this cabbage not only for its unusual shape and taste. They believed that Beijing cabbage brought wealth and good luck to the home. The miniature porcelain sprouts are still considered a talisman for the home.

The differences between Chinese and Chinese cabbage

To the average person, the names "Beijing cabbage" and "Chinese cabbage" are considered synonymous, although they are two very different vegetables. Chinese cabbage is characterized by a bulky, dense cabbage with curly-edged leaves. The light yellow core has leaves with light green edges. Chinese leaf cabbage, also called bok choy, has no core.

Unlike Beijing cabbage, bok choy leaves are smooth. They do not form a dense bob. The Chinese cabbage leaves are a rich green color on top, but become whitish at the base.

Composition and calories

Peking cabbage is endowed with beneficial properties due to the vitamins, dietary fiber, and minerals it contains.

The white part of kale leaves is rich in a lot of indigestible dietary fiber. These coarse substances clean the intestinal walls of mucus and unnecessary waste, just like the brushes in a jar. For vitamin C is reserved most for the green part of the leaves of this vegetable, while the white part of their content of vitamins A and K. Vitamin A helps produce the substance rhodopsin, which improves vision in the dark time of day. The role of vitamin K is to normalize blood clotting.

The presence of vitamin E, riboflavin, folic and nicotinic acids, carotene, thiamine in the juicy crispy leaves turn the Beijing cabbage into a vitaminized cocktail that is especially useful for the whole body. Equally valuable is the citric acid present in it, which is considered a very rare phenomenon in the realm of plants.

The proteins, amino acids, antioxidants, macro and micronutrients give Beijing cabbage its special taste. Iodine, potassium, magnesium, cobalt, iron, phosphorus, and selenium enrich the delicate leaves of this cabbage. There are 16 kcal in 100 grams of Chinese cabbage, so it is a necessary component of dishes for those struggling with obesity and dreaming of a beautiful figure.

What is the usefulness of Chinese cabbage?

The usefulness of any product is evaluated by its positive impact on the body, in particular on the internal organs.

General benefits

Beijing cabbage is indispensable in the treatment of anemia, avitaminosis. To strengthen the immune system or improve the production of antibodies in the fight against infection, in the diet as often as possible should be present Beijing cabbage in any of its forms: raw or boiled.

The list of useful properties of this vegetable is quite extensive:

• freeing the blood vessels from cholesterol;
• normalization of blood pressure;
• increase of metabolism;
• improvement of intestinal peristalsis;
• blood purification;
• protection against free radicals.

This is not the whole list of beneficial effects of Chinese cabbage on the human body. For hypertension, regulation of blood sugar levels, the need to improve the production of digestive enzymes or diuretic processes, Chinese cabbage is one of the best vegetable products for humans.

In addition, it has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, restoring it, especially after stressful situations. Headaches can also go away after eating the leaves of this vegetable. Enriching the diet with dishes from Beijing cabbage improves the quality of sleep and contributes to the prevention of anemia. Specialists recommend using the vegetable in cases of senile dementia and jaundice. If there are problems with the state of the gums and mouth, rinsing with juice from fresh Beijing cabbage is useful.

For women

1. The beautiful half of humanity will find in Beijing cabbage a loyal ally in the fight against premature aging. Thanks to the content of useful substances, the vegetable is one of a number of natural antioxidants that prevent the aging of cells.
2. The rich content of fiber in cabbage makes it low-calorie. This property attracts women who have problems with excess weight.
3. No less important for women is the state of their skin. Phytohormones contained in peking have a beneficial effect on the skin, making it elastic. The face acquires a healthy complexion.
4. Problems with the genitourinary system of women can also be resolved if, in addition to the treatment recommended by specialists, include in the diet of Peking cabbage.

For men

The male part of humanity is not thrilled with the constant consumption of vegetables. There is no doubt that they will change their attitude towards them, appreciating the benefits of Beijing cabbage, which helps in increasing sensitivity during sexual intercourse. A big plus of Pekingeseed for men is its help in preventing premature ejaculation.

Common to both women and men will be a beneficial effect of Beijing cabbage in diseases of the genitourinary system to restore bladder and kidney function, eliminate painful sensations and stop inflammation.

During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the most important thing for a woman is the state of her health and the development of the fetus. The presence of a large number of vitamins and trace elements in peking makes it one of the most useful products for pregnant women.

1. It solves problems with edema and normalizes the weight.
2. The iron contained in Beijing cabbage prevents the occurrence of anemia in the expectant mother. It improves the process of hematopoiesis.
3. Often haunted by pregnant woman sleepiness, depression, lack of energy disappear if her diet regularly include dishes with Peking cabbage.
4. The folic acid present in this vegetable will help to avoid congenital abnormalities in the child.

But consumption of Chinese cabbage may be contraindicated for some categories of people. Before including it in the diet, it is necessary to consult with specialists.

When breastfeeding

The consumption of Chinese cabbage during the period of breastfeeding has its own peculiarities. To prevent increased gas in the child, the vegetable should be boiled, stewed or steamed. Moreover, such a treatment does not affect the preservation of useful substances in the cabbage. The use of small portions of peking help to increase not only the amount of breast milk several times, but its quality. When the child reaches 7-10 months of age, a nursing mother can include Peking cabbage in her diet fresh, but in small portions and after consultation with a specialist.

For kids

Pediatricians consider the introduction of Chinese cabbage in children's food optimal from the age of two: from this age the risk of increased gas formation in a child decreases. The benefits of Beijing cabbage for children's body is explained, firstly, by the absence of any contraindications for its inclusion in children's food. Secondly, it does not cause allergies. Thirdly, it strengthens the child's immune system due to the content of many vitamins and minerals in Beijing. Fourthly, the strengthening of children's heart and blood vessels contribute to the antioxidants, which occupy a significant place among the useful substances of cabbage.

If the introduction of Chinese cabbage in the child's diet is a decision, you should start with stewed or boiled cabbage, gradually passing to the raw vegetable.

Benefits of Beijing cabbage for weight loss

Beijing cabbage can be called a dream product by anyone who has lost weight. The main explanation is that even the smallest amount of cabbage causes a feeling of satiety. It has a very low caloric value, or rather a negative caloric value. Chinese cabbage is a vegetable from which the body receives much less energy than it expends for its processing. No matter how much cabbage a person consumes, he will never gain weight. The weight loss process will be easy and painless. At the same time, the functioning of the digestive organs will improve. A person will stop having headaches, problems related to anemia will disappear, and the nervous system will normalize.

There are several ways to lose weight with the use of Chinese cabbage. The choice of option is depending on the speed of obtaining results.

Quick results can be obtained if during the day you consume only peking cabbage salads, combining them with boiled beef or chicken. After a couple of weeks, you can start eating as usual, and cook coleslaw for dinner. A week of such a regimen will help to get rid of about 4 kg.

1. Preparing salads from this vegetable does not require much time and any special components. For the classic salad to the sliced cabbage leaves need a very small amount of salt. Dress this salad with lemon juice and vegetable oil, taken in equal quantities.
2. For a salad of peking and greens will need components in the form of green onions, coriander, parsley, dill. A small amount of yogurt or kefir will serve as dressing for it.
3. Japanese salad made with sliced Peking cabbage requires cucumber sliced into thin strips and sesame seeds for sprinkles. Dressing for the salad is prepared from about three tablespoons of soy sauce, a couple of garlic cloves passed through a crusher.
4. Shredded Peking cabbage in a hearty salad complemented by finely chopped egg, dressed with a mixture of lemon juice and vegetable oil. The proportions should be equal. The salad will take on a special flavor if you replace the eggs with a handful of shrimp, pre-cleaned and boiled.

Those who do not really want to bother with dieting can eat only peking salad at the end of the day, during dinner. If you want to speed up getting a perfect figure, adding cabbage to your morning meals is useful. Unwanted pounds will disappear in the range of half to one kilogram per week. True, you should keep in mind that with a craving for fatty, fried foods and sweets, the rate of weight loss will be slow. A light diet and a diet with Chinese cabbage will lead to the desired result much faster.

To get a perfect figure and not lose more of its shape, you need to develop a constant regime of proper nutrition. To do this, you can stick to something like this daily menu:

1. Eat breakfast exclusively with dishes made of Beijing cabbage. Eggs or a couple of boiled eggs or a bowl of porridge won't hurt.
2. Fruit, whether an apple or an orange, will do for a snack.
3. Lunch with a portion of any soup and a peking salad will be quite sufficient.
4. If you want to have an afternoon snack, it is enough to eat cottage cheese, half a packet of cottage cheese or any fruit.
5. Dinner can consist of boiled beef or chicken and coleslaw.
6. Before going to bed, if the feeling of hunger worries, a glass of nonfat kefir will quench this feeling.

Observance of such a diet will lead not only to the desired changes in the figure, but also to an improvement in your own health.

Chinese cabbage in medicine

From a medical point of view, Beijing cabbage has many advantages. The presence in the vegetable of phytoncides leads to a bactericidal effect on staphylococcus aureus and other microorganisms that negatively affect health. During the treatment of purulent wounds, it is useful to eat this type of cabbage. Its fresh juice, mixed with warm water, is used to rinse the mouth if there is inflammation in it. The juice of the Beijing cabbage is used as an effective means for cleansing the body.

For Diabetes Mellitus

People with diabetes are more likely to suffer from a weakened immune system. Beijing cabbage has a high content of lysine, an amino acid that strengthens the body and increases immunity. In addition, thanks to the components present in the cabbage, there is a breakdown of foreign proteins. In this way, the blood is cleansed. The rich content of fiber improves the functioning of the digestive system, which often suffers in diabetic patients.

Important: The glycemic index of Chinese cabbage is 15 units.

For pancreatitis

Patients with pancreatitis should treat the use of Chinese cabbage with special caution. Because of the large amount of ascorbic and citric acids and fiber in the vegetable, it can cause a worsening of the disease if it is eaten fresh. For the beneficial effects of Beijing cabbage on the body, it is best to eat it in boiled or stewed form.

When the danger of the return of the disease passes, you can begin to gradually accustom the body to the raw cabbage. The first portions of raw leaves should be tiny, and they should be doused with boiled water. If the condition of the body is good, it is desirable to introduce cabbage salads from Beijing cabbage into the diet about twice a week. Any dish of this vegetable, cooked according to Oriental recipes, as well as pickled cabbage should be excluded from the menu of a patient with pancreatitis.

For gastritis

Chinese cabbage for patients with gastritis in its fresh form is not only harmful, but even dangerous. But you should not exclude it from your diet at all. Properly cooked stewed Peking cabbage helps to enrich the body with the necessary substances. Already in the old days people noticed that the cabbage juice from fresh Beijing cabbage helps patients with gastritis, reducing the increased acidity.

Gastroenterologists admit that the juice has a positive effect on the walls of the stomach, relieves them of irritation and inflammation. If you drink cabbage juice in the first moments of symptoms of the disease, heartburn and nausea will disappear.

For constipation

Beijing cabbage, like its many relatives, is rich in ascorbic acid, which improves the work of the entire body, preventing inflammation. Its regular consumption prevents constipation.

Consumption of cabbage raw, stewed or boiled, as well as in combination with other plant or meat products has a beneficial effect on intestinal function. Properly cooked Chinese cabbage is a guarantee of getting rid of constipation.

If you have gout

Gout is not a reason for banning the use of Chinese cabbage in the diet. Although patients with such a diagnosis are more suitable white cabbage. Peking cabbage helps to improve the overall condition of the body. For this purpose, you can prepare various salads from its fresh leaves.

For hemorrhoids

Dishes from Beijing cabbage in hemorrhoids are recommended by specialists because of the presence of fiber in it, which prevents constipation. It is they are contraindicated for such patients.

In addition, unlike other varieties of cabbage, Peking cabbage has the lowest rate of gas formation. For salads made of Beijing cabbage, you can take cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots as additional components. Boiled eggs or chicken breast will be a healthy addition to the peking. Vegetable oil, yogurt, sour cream or kefir can be used as a dressing.

For cholelithiasis

Patients with cholelithiasis should use Peking cabbage very carefully and in small quantities. Abuse of the recommendations of specialists can lead to complications and exacerbation of symptoms of the disease.

Beijing cabbage in cosmetology

For cosmetic purposes, the juice and leaves of the Beijing cabbage are used mainly to improve the skin. It is an irreplaceable natural cosmetic product for keeping the epidermis healthy. Lotions, masks and creams made using recipes based on Beijing sprouts have long been known in cosmetology.

1. Juice squeezed from the white part of the leaves is used to narrow the pores on the face. Daily rubbing of the face helps not only to narrow the pores, but also to get rid of excess grease on the skin.
2. With dry skin is suitable recipe, which scalded with boiling water and lightly beaten with a hammer the white part of a cabbage leaf applied to the face. Before you put on your face, the sheet should be smeared with oil, preferably olive oil. After 20 minutes, wash your face with a decoction made from chamomile.
3. From peeling of the skin will save a mass, prepared from boiled in milk and chopped in a blender leaves. The resulting mass is put on the face for half an hour. Exfoliating effect will give a mask of crushed cabbage leaves, egg yolk and a teaspoon of olive oil. Thoroughly mixed mixture is applied to the face. Regular use of the mask at least twice a week gives a positive result.
4. Good moisturizing facial mask made from two tablespoons of squeezed cabbage juice. A tablespoon of the lowest fat sour cream is added to the juice.
5. A mask of crushed cabbage, about ten drops of linseed oil and vitamin A will help to solve the problem of pigmented spots on the skin. The mixture is applied to clean skin in the pigmentation area at least twice a week.
6. Pekinka can get rid of dandruff on the head. The scalp is smeared with vegetable oil. Then fresh, slightly mashed cabbage leaves are put on it. If one procedure is not enough, it can be repeated.

Benefits and Contraindications

Along with the unique useful properties of the Beijing cabbage has contraindications. In some cases, it can cause tangible harm to the body.

1. Experts forbid to eat Peking cabbage for people with problems in the gastrointestinal tract. The risk of exacerbation of cholecystitis, pancreatitis, gastritis is available to fans of excessive consumption of this vegetable or dishes from it.
2. Do not eat Pekingese if you have diarrhea, flatulence and colic. Under no circumstances should it be combined with dairy products, including cottage cheese, sour cream and cheese. This will lead to diarrhea.

It is necessary to exercise caution when buying Chinese cabbage, because there is a risk of the presence of a large amount of nitrates in the purchased product. To protect yourself, it is recommended to put the cabbage for at least an hour and a half in clean water, and then rinse under running water.

How to choose and store Chinese cabbage

Recommendations for selection:

1. When choosing Beijing cabbage, it is best to focus on seasoned varieties, because they are grown under familiar conditions and are less prone to spoilage.
2. When buying, preference should be given to unpacked sprouts. This way it is easier to assess the quality of products.
3. You should not buy cabbage, which has begun to rot the leaves. They must necessarily be dry. Even very small brown spots on the leaves of the vegetable pose a health hazard.
4. Quality cabbage should be a small, dense sprout of pale yellow or deep green color. If Peking cabbage is large and yellow in color, it indicates that it is overripe and has lost juiciness.
5. Do not buy Beijing cabbage with a peculiar chemical smell. It indicates the use of growth stimulants or treatment before being sent to market. Ideally, this vegetable has no smell.

Unlike other varieties of cabbage, Peking cabbage is not very suitable for long-term storage, but if you follow some rules you can put fresh cabbage salads on the New Year table. The initial step in preserving the vegetable is to harvest it in time. The best preserved September sprouts, which have no dried out or damaged leaves.

The next step is to wrap the cabbage in cellophane, and store it best in a wooden crate. Every two weeks, once every two weeks, it is important to inspect the peking cabbage. If rotten leaves are found, cut them off and wrap the plant in new cellophane wrap.

The storage location can be a cellar or basement where it is moderately damp and humid. The humidity should be no higher than 95%, otherwise condensation will appear on the cabbage. At temperatures from 0 to +2 degrees Peking will keep longer. Do not forget about the neighbors. If there are, for example, apples near it, the substance released by them will have a negative effect on the leaves of the vegetable and reduce its shelf life.

Home conditions allow you to store Beijing cabbage in the refrigerator or on the loggia, glazed and cool. The temperature regime should not be below 0 degrees. Each cabbage is also wrapped in foil, periodically inspected and freed from the rotten leaves. Under the right conditions, such cabbage can be stored for up to 4 months. With a large crop, it can be saved in the form of various preparations.

What can be cooked from the Beijing cabbage

This vegetable is considered versatile in every way. It is good for the human body for medicinal purposes due to the components it contains. The juiciness and crunch of the leaves give this cabbage a special charm. The lovers of tasty and healthy food will not leave indifferent the light salads prepared from pekinkin with the addition of chopped shrimp, calamari, crab meat, boiled chicken, turkey, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, eggs, canned peas, corn. You can dress it all with lemon juice, sour cream, kefir, yogurt, olive oil or sunflower oil.

Pekingese is good not only for salads. Its leaves are suitable for cabbage rolls, which can be filled with vegetables, meat and rice. This vegetable can be used in borscht instead of white cabbage. Of it make preparations for the winter.

Dishes made of Beijing cabbage are tasty and useful. Fine flavor, high nutritional value of the Beijing cabbage will suit the taste of people of all ages.

How to cut the Chinese cabbage correctly

Not only the look of the dish, but also its taste and texture depends on the way of slicing the Beijing cabbage.

1. To make kimchi salad, first rinse the cabbage under running water so that it does not penetrate inside the cabbage. Before cutting the cabbage, shake off any remaining water droplets and blot them with a napkin. Next, divide the cauliflower into two halves, keeping the leaves on the stalk intact. The halves should just as carefully be divided into two more pieces, with the same condition of preserving the leaves. For final readiness, the cabbage pieces are placed in a special brine, adding pepper and garlic to it.
2. Coarse slicing of the green part of the leaves of the Beijing cabbage is used to prepare a salad "Caesar". For this, the leaves are cut into large squares. For this salad, you can cut directly the cabbage itself. Divided in half, the cabbage is first cut into long strips about 2 centimeters wide, and then they are divided into cubes, leaving the same distance between the cuts.
3. Pekin can be shredded in the form of thin straw, having previously cut the cabbage into two parts. Shredding is carried out across the cabbage leaf.
4. Coarsely shredded leaves are more suitable for soups and other hot dishes. For this purpose, it is enough to divide the halves of the cabbage into two equal parts and shred according to the desired thickness of coarse straw. Keep in mind that the pecan should be put into hot dishes shortly before the end of cooking.
5. Super-fine straw will provide the cook with kitchen equipment: vegetable slicer, food processor, blender, meat grinder with vegetable attachments.

Properly sliced Chinese cabbage affects the appearance of the dish and human appetite.

Can I braise the Chinese cabbage?

It is possible to braise Peking cabbage. For this purpose, the lower part of the cabbage is more suitable. In addition, it can be cooked together with various vegetables and meat. Only it is important to remember that the soft cabbage leaves can severely boil if you put them in very early. Therefore, it is preferable to add chopped pectin leaves closer to the end of cooking. Serve the dish better in hot form, although even cold it will not lose its taste and its useful properties.

Can I cook borscht with Chinese cabbage

Perhaps someone will be surprised, but Beijing cabbage is suitable for borscht. True, the taste of such a soup will be unusual. Put it in the broth only 5-10 minutes before it is fully cooked.

Why is the Chinese cabbage bitter in the salad?

Bitter taste of Beijing cabbage can be the result of its growth on the sunny side. You should not immediately get rid of such a plant, but it is better to try to return its normal taste. Divided into leaves, the vegetable should be placed in cold salt water for several hours. Pieces of ice will help keep the desired coolness longer. After that, you can use the leaves as desired.

Can the Beijing cabbage animal

The useful properties of Beijing cabbage allow animal lovers to use it as a pet food. It is best to take the soft parts of the plant for this purpose. Hamsters and guinea pigs will particularly like them. Parrots also will not refuse juicy food in the form of crunchy peking leaves, especially in winter, when the bird's body is deficient in micronutrients. Rabbits will gladly eat all parts of this vegetable, but overeating it can lead to diseases of the animal's digestive organs.

Components contained in the Beijing cabbage help animals to get the necessary nutrients for the body and strengthen the immune system.

Interesting facts about Chinese cabbage

1. As early as the fifth century AD, the Chinese were growing this cabbage. Its age - 5 thousand years. It is named after the Chinese capital - Beijing.
2. Peking cabbage itself is the result of a cross between turnip and a leafy bok choy, a leafy baconless vegetable from East Asia.
3. Europeans learned about it only in the seventies of the 19th century. But it was not until the next century that cabbage became a time when health enthusiasts placed it on a pedestal of honor, singling it out from a large number of other beneficial plants for humans.
4. At first, the cabbage was only grown in Japan, Korea and East Asia, apart from China. But after breeding and obtaining cold-resistant varieties of Peking cabbage, it has made its home in Canada, the United States, Europe, Russia and other countries.

The Beijing cabbage, which looks like an ordinary salad, is a vegetable that has become an indispensable product for people of all ages living in different parts of the world.

Photo of Peking cabbage