Beijing cabbage: health benefits and harms

No supermarket or market today will give up on Beijing cabbage. The consumer has long appreciated its merits, so it is in great demand.

What does Chinese cabbage look like

She attracts attention with an elongated shape with funny curly leaves, thin and delicate. A head of oblong shape 30–50 centimeters in size is composed of delicate yellow-green succulent leaves.

This vegetable is a native of China. Locals loved this cabbage not only for its unusual shape and taste. They believed that Beijing cabbage brings wealth and good fortune to the house. A miniature china head is still considered a talisman for a hearth.

Differences between Beijing and Chinese cabbage

For a simple layman, the names "Beijing cabbage" and "Chinese cabbage" are considered synonyms, although these are two completely different vegetables. Peking cabbage is characterized by head-shaped heads of volumetric shape with leaves curly at the edges. On a light yellow core are leaves with light green edges. Chinese kale, also called bokchoy, has no core.

Unlike Peking cabbage, bok choy leaves are smooth. They do not form a tight head. The upper part of the leaves of Chinese kale is saturated green, and at the base they turn whitish.

Composition and calorie content

Peking cabbage is endowed with useful properties due to the vitamins, dietary fiber and minerals present in it.

The white part of cabbage leaves is rich in a large number of indigestible dietary fiber. These gross substances, like brushes in a jar, cleanse the intestinal wall of mucus and unnecessary waste. Vitamin C has the most space in the green part of the leaves of this vegetable, while in the white part the content of vitamins A and K is most of all. Vitamin A helps to produce the substance rhodopsin, which improves vision in the dark. The role of vitamin K is to normalize blood coagulation.

The presence of vitamin E, riboflavin, folic and nicotinic acids, carotene, thiamine in succulent crispy leaves turns Beijing cabbage into a fortified cocktail, especially useful for the whole body. Citric acid present in it attaches no less value, which is considered a very rare occurrence in the plant kingdom.

Proteins, amino acids, antioxidants, macro- and microelements give a special taste to Beijing cabbage. The delicate leaves of this head are enriched with iodine, potassium, magnesium, cobalt, iron, phosphorus, and selenium. 100 grams of Beijing cabbage contains 16 kcal, so it is a necessary component of dishes for those who struggle with obesity and dream of a beautiful figure.

What is good for Beijing cabbage

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

General benefit

Beijing cabbage is indispensable in the treatment of anemia, vitamin deficiency. In order to strengthen the immune system or improve the production of antibodies in the fight against infection, Beijing cabbage in all its forms should be present in the diet as often as possible: raw or boiled.

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

• the release of blood vessels from cholesterol;
• normalization of blood pressure;
• increased metabolism;
• improvement of intestinal motility;
• blood purification;
• protection against free radicals.

This is not the whole list of beneficial effects of Beijing cabbage on the human body. With hypertension, regulation of blood sugar, 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. Headache can also go away after eating the leaves of this vegetable. Enriching the diet with dishes of Beijing cabbage improves the quality of sleep, helps prevent anemia. Experts recommend the use of a vegetable with manifestations of senile dementia and jaundice. If there are problems with the condition of the gums and oral cavity, rinsing with juice from fresh Beijing cabbage is useful.

For women

1. The beautiful half of humanity in Beijing cabbage will find a loyal ally in the fight against premature aging. Due to the content of nutrients, the vegetable is one of the natural antioxidants that prevent cell aging.
2. The rich content in fiber cabbage makes it low-calorie. This property attracts women who are overweight.
3. Equally important is the condition of the skin for women. The phytohormones contained in Beijing have a beneficial effect on the skin, making it supple. The face takes on a healthy color.
4. Problems with the genitourinary system of a woman can also be resolved if, in addition to the treatment methods recommended by specialists, include Beijing cabbage in food.

For men

The male part of humanity is not enthusiastic about the constant use of vegetables. There is no doubt that they will change their attitude towards them, appreciating the benefits of Beijing cabbage, which helps to increase sensitivity during intercourse. A big plus for Beijing is its help in preventing premature ejaculation.

Common for both women and men will be the beneficial effect of Beijing cabbage in diseases of the genitourinary system on the restoration of the functions of the bladder and kidneys, the elimination of pain and the cessation of inflammatory processes.

During pregnancy

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

1. It solves problems with edema and normalizes weight.
2. The iron contained in Beijing cabbage prevents the appearance of anemia in the expectant mother. The process of blood formation improves.
3. Often haunting a pregnant woman, drowsiness, depression, loss of strength will disappear if dishes with Peking are regularly present in her diet.
4. Folic acid present in this vegetable will help to avoid congenital anomalies in a child.

But the use of Beijing cabbage may be contraindicated for certain categories of people. Before including it in the diet, it is necessary to consult with specialists.

When breastfeeding

The use of Beijing cabbage during breastfeeding has its own characteristics. To prevent increased gas formation in the child, the vegetable must be boiled, stewed or steamed. Moreover, such processing does not affect the safety of nutrients in cabbage. The use of Beijing in small portions helps to increase not only the amount of breast milk several times, but also its quality. After the child reaches 7-10 months, the nursing mother can include fresh Chinese cabbage in her diet, but in small portions and after consulting a specialist.

For kids

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

If the introduction of Beijing cabbage into the child’s diet is resolved, you should start with stewed or boiled cabbage, gradually moving to a raw vegetable.

The benefits of Beijing cabbage for weight loss

Peking cabbage, anyone losing weight can be called a dream product. The main explanation is that even the smallest amount of cabbage causes a feeling of fullness. It has a very low calorific value, or rather negative. Beijing cabbage is a vegetable from which the body receives much less energy than it spends on its processing. No matter how much cabbage a person consumes, he will never recover. The process of losing weight will be easy and painless. This improves the functioning of the digestive system. A person’s headaches will stop, problems associated with anemia will disappear, and the nervous system will return to normal.

For weight loss with the use of Beijing cabbage, there are several ways. The choice of option depends on the speed of obtaining the results.

You can get a quick result if you use only Beijing salads during the day, combining them with boiled beef or chicken. After a couple of weeks, you can start eating as usual, and prepare a cabbage salad for dinner. A week of such a regimen will help to loose about 4 kg.

1. Preparation of salads from this vegetable does not require much time and any special components. For a classic salad, chopped cabbage leaves need a very small amount of salt. You need to season such a salad with lemon juice and vegetable oil, taken in equal quantities.
2. For a salad of Beijing and herbs, you will need components in the form of green onions, cilantro, parsley, dill. A small amount of yogurt or kefir will serve as a dressing for him.
3. A Japanese salad made from chopped Beijing cabbage needs cucumber chopped into thin strips and sesame for sprinkling. Salad dressing is prepared from approximately three tablespoons of soy sauce, a pair of garlic cloves, passed through a crush.
4. Shredded Chinese cabbage in a hearty salad is supplemented with finely chopped egg seasoned with a mixture of lemon juice and vegetable oil. Proportions should be equal. The salad will get a special taste if the eggs are replaced with a handful of shrimps, previously peeled and boiled.

Those who don’t really want to bother with diets can use only Beijing salad at the end of the day, during dinner. If you want to speed up getting the perfect figure, it is useful to add cabbage to the morning dishes. Unnecessary kilograms will disappear in the range from half to one kilogram per week. True, it should be borne in mind that with a passion for fatty, fried foods and sweets, the speed of losing weight will be slow. A light diet and a diet with Chinese cabbage will lead to the desired result much faster.

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

1. Breakfast exclusively with Chinese cabbage. If desired, fried eggs, or a couple of boiled eggs, or a plate of some kind of cereal will not hurt.
2. Fruits are suitable for a snack, whether it be an apple or an orange.
3. Lunch with a serving of any soup and Peking salad will be sufficient.
4. If you want to arrange an afternoon snack, it is enough to eat curd cheese, half a pack of cottage cheese or any fruit.
5. Dinner may consist of boiled beef or chicken and cabbage salad.
6. Before going to bed, if you are worried about hunger, a glass of low-fat kefir will quench this feeling.

Compliance with this diet will not only lead to the desired changes in the figure, but also to improve their own health.

Beijing cabbage in medicine

From a medical point of view, Beijing cabbage has numerous advantages. The presence of phytoncides in the vegetable leads to a bactericidal effect on Staphylococcus aureus and other microorganisms that negatively affect well-being. During the treatment of purulent wounds, it is useful to eat this variety of cabbage. Her fresh juice, mixed with warm water, is used to rinse the mouth if it has inflammation. Beijing cabbage juice is used as an effective means to cleanse the body.

With diabetes

People with diabetes are most often immunocompromised. Beijing cabbage contains a high content of lysine, an amino acid that strengthens the body and boosts immunity. In addition, due to the components present in cabbage, the splitting of foreign proteins occurs. Thus, the blood is cleansed. The high fiber content improves the functioning of the digestive system, which often suffers in patients with diabetes.

Important: the glycemic index of Beijing cabbage - 15 units.

With pancreatitis

Patients with pancreatitis should treat the use of Beijing cabbage with extreme caution. Due to the large amount of ascorbic and citric acids in the vegetable, as well as fiber, it can cause an exacerbation of the disease, if used for fresh food. 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 raw cabbage. The first servings of raw leaves should be tiny and should be doused with boiled water. If the condition of the body is good, it is advisable to introduce Beijing cabbage salads into the diet preferably about twice a week. Any dishes from this vegetable prepared according to oriental recipes, as well as pickled cabbage should be excluded from the menu of a patient with pancreatitis.

With gastritis

Fresh cabbage for patients with gastritis in its fresh form is not just harmful, but even dangerous. But you should not completely exclude it from the diet. Properly cooked stewed Peking contributes to the enrichment of the body with the necessary substances. In ancient times, people noticed that cabbage juice from fresh Beijing cabbage helps patients with gastritis, lowering high acidity.

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

For constipation

Peking cabbage, like its many relatives, is rich in ascorbic acid, which improves the functioning of the whole body and prevents inflammation. Its regular use prevents constipation.

The use of cabbage in raw, stewed or boiled form, as well as in combination with other vegetable or meat products, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the intestine. A guarantee of getting rid of constipation is properly cooked Beijing cabbage.

With gout

Gout is not a reason to prohibit the use of Beijing cabbage in the diet. Although patients with such a diagnosis are more likely to have white. Pekingka helps to improve the general condition of the body. To do this, you can cook various salads from its fresh leaves.

With hemorrhoids

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

In addition, unlike other cabbage varieties, Peking has the lowest gas production rate. For salads from Beijing cabbage, you can take cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots as additional components. Boiled eggs or chicken breasts will be a useful addition to Beijing. As dressings, you can use vegetable oil, yogurt, sour cream or kefir.

With cholecystitis

Patients with cholecystitis should consume Beijing cabbage very carefully and in small quantities. Abuse of the recommendations of specialists can lead to complications and exacerbation of the symptoms of the disease.

Beijing cabbage in cosmetology

For cosmetic purposes, the juice and leaves of Beijing cabbage are used mainly to improve the condition of the skin. The presence of the optimal amount of useful components makes it an indispensable natural cosmetic product for maintaining the health of the epidermis. Lotions, masks, creams, prepared according to recipes based on Beijing, have long been known in cosmetology.

1. To narrow the pores on the face, juice is used, squeezed from the white part of the leaves. Daily rubbing of the face helps not only narrow the pores, but also rid the skin of excess fat.
2. For dry skin, a recipe is suitable according to which the scalded white part of the cabbage leaf, scalded with boiling water, is applied to the face. Before applying to the face, the sheet needs to be greased with oil, preferably olive. After 20 minutes, wash with a decoction prepared from pharmacy chamomile.
3. A mass prepared from milk boiled in milk and chopped in a blender will save the skin from peeling. The resulting mass is applied for half an hour to the face. An exfoliating effect will give a mask of chopped cabbage leaves, egg yolk and a teaspoon of olive oil. A thoroughly mixed mixture is applied to the face. Regular use of the mask at least twice a week gives a positive result.
4. A mask prepared from two tablespoons of squeezed cabbage juice moisturizes the skin of the face. A tablespoon of sour cream of the lowest fat content is added to the juice.
5. A mask of chopped cabbage, flaxseed oil in the amount of about ten drops and vitamin A will help solve the problem with age spots on the skin. The mixture is applied to clean skin in the area of ​​pigmentation at least twice a week.
6. Pekingka can relieve dandruff on her head The scalp is lubricated with vegetable oil. Then fresh, slightly mashed cabbage leaves are superimposed on it. If one procedure is not enough, it can be repeated.

Harm and contraindications

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

1. Experts prohibit eating Beijing people with problems in the gastrointestinal tract. The risk of exacerbation of cholecystitis, pancreatitis, gastritis is among lovers of excessive consumption of this vegetable or dishes from it.
2. Do not eat Peking with existing diarrhea, flatulence and colic. In no case can you combine it with milk products, including cottage cheese, sour cream, cheese. This will lead to diarrhea.

Caution must be exercised when buying Beijing cabbage, because there is a risk of a large amount of nitrates in the purchased product. To protect yourself, it is recommended to place the head of cabbage for at least an hour and a half in clean water, and then rinse under running water.

How to choose and store Beijing cabbage

Recommendations regarding the choice:

1. When choosing Beijing cabbage, it is best to focus on zoned varieties, because they are grown in the usual conditions and less prone to spoilage.
2. When buying, you should give preference to cabbages without packaging. It’s easier to evaluate product quality.
3. You should not buy cabbage, which began to rot leaves. They must be dry. Even very small brown spots on the leaves of the vegetable present a health hazard.
4. Quality cabbage should be a small, firm head of pale yellow or saturated green. If Chinese cabbage is large and yellow in color, this indicates that it is overripe and has lost its juiciness.
5. You can not buy Beijing with a peculiar chemical smell. It indicates the use of growth stimulants or processing before being sent for sale. Ideally, this vegetable is odorless.

Unlike other varieties of cabbage, Peking is not very suitable for long-term storage, but subject to certain rules, you can put fresh cabbage salads on the New Year's table. The initial stage of preserving the vegetable is its timely collection. September heads are best preserved, on which there are no dried or damaged leaves.

The next step is to wrap the cabbage with cellophane, and it is best to store it in a wooden box. Every two weeks, it is once important to inspect Beijing. If rotten leaves are found, they should be cut off and the plant wrapped in a new cellophane film.

The storage location can be a cellar or basement, where it is moderately damp and humid. Humidity should not be higher than 95%, otherwise condensation will appear on the cabbage. At temperatures between 0 and +2 degrees, the Beijing will last longer. Do not forget about the neighbors. If, for example, apples are near it, the substance secreted by them will adversely affect the leaves of the vegetable and reduce its shelf life.

Home conditions allow you to store Beijing cabbage in the refrigerator or on a loggia, glazed and cool. The temperature regime must be at least 0 degrees. Each head of cabbage also turns into a film, is periodically inspected and freed from rotten leaves. Under proper conditions, such cabbage can be stored for up to 4 months. With a large crop, it can be stored in the form of various blanks.

What can be cooked from Beijing cabbage

This vegetable is considered universal in all respects. It is good for the human body for medicinal purposes due to the components contained in it. Juiciness and crunching leaves give this cabbage a special charm. Light salads prepared from Peking with the addition of chopped shrimp, squid, crab meat, boiled chicken, turkey, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, eggs, canned peas, and corn will impress the lovers of tasty and healthy food. You can fill all this with lemon juice, sour cream, kefir, yogurt, olive or sunflower oil.

Peking is good not only for salads. Its leaves are suitable for stuffed cabbage, in which there may be vegetable, meat and rice filling. This vegetable can be used in borsch instead of white cabbage. From it make blanks for the winter.

Peking cabbage dishes are tasty and healthy. Subtle aroma, high nutritional value of Beijing cabbage will appeal to people of all ages.

How to cut Beijing cabbage

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

1. To prepare a kimchi salad, first the cabbage is washed under running water so that it does not penetrate the head of cabbage. Before cutting the head, shake off the remaining droplets of water and pat them dry with a napkin. Next, you should divide the head into two halves, keeping the leaves on the handle intact. Halves should also be carefully divided into two parts with the same condition for the preservation of leaves. For final readiness, parts of cabbage are placed in a special brine, adding pepper and garlic.
2. A large cut of the green part of the leaves of Beijing cabbage is used to make Caesar salad. To do this, the leaves are cut into large squares. For this salad, you can directly chop the head of cabbage.Cabbage divided in half is first cut into long strips about 2 centimeters wide, and then they are divided into cubes, leaving the same distance between slices.
3. Peking can be chopped in the form of a thin straw, after first cutting the head into two parts. The shredder is carried out across the cabbage leaf.
4. Coarsely chopped leaves are more suitable for soups and other hot dishes. To do this, it is enough to divide the heads of the head into two equal parts and chop them into the desired thickness with a coarse straw. It should be remembered that Peking should be laid in hot dishes shortly before the completion of cooking.
5. The superthin straws will be provided to the cook by the kitchen equipment: vegetable cutter, food processor, blender, meat grinder with vegetable nozzles.

Properly chopped Beijing cabbage affects the appearance of the dish and the appetite of a person.

Is it possible to stew Beijing cabbage

You can stew Beijing cabbage. The lower part of the head is more suitable for this. In addition, it can be cooked with various vegetables, meat. It is only important to remember that the soft leaves of cabbage can boil apart if laid very early. Therefore, it is preferable to add chopped Peking leaves closer to the end of cooking. Serving the dish is better when hot, although cold it will not lose its taste and its beneficial properties.

Is it possible to cook borsch with Beijing cabbage

Someone may be surprised, but Beijing cabbage is suitable for borsch. True, the taste of such a soup will be unusual. To put it in the broth you need only 5-10 minutes before complete readiness.

Why Peking cabbage is bitter in a salad

The 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 usual taste. The vegetable divided into leaves should be put in cold salt water for several hours. Pieces of ice will help to keep the necessary cool longer. After that, you can use the leaves as desired.

Can Beijing cabbage be animals

Useful properties of Beijing cabbage allow animal lovers to use it as a food for pets. It is best to take soft parts of the plant for this. Hamsters and guinea pigs will especially like them. Parrots also will not refuse juicy food in the form of crispy Peking leaves, especially in winter, when there is a lack of trace elements in the body of the bird. Rabbits will be happy to eat all parts of this vegetable, but overeating it can lead to diseases of the animal’s food organs.

The components contained in Beijing cabbage help animals in obtaining the necessary nutrients for the body and strengthening immunity.

Interesting facts about Beijing cabbage

1. Already in the fifth century AD, the Chinese grew this cabbage. Her age is 5 thousand years. Named after the Chinese capital - Beijing.
2. Peking cabbage itself is the result of crossing turnips and leafy vegetables without a head of bok choy - greens from East Asia.
3. Europeans learned about it only in the seventies of the XIX century. But only the next century was the time for cabbage, when fans of a healthy lifestyle raised it to the podium, singling out a large number of other plants useful to humans.
4. At first, this cabbage was grown, except for China, only in Japan, Korea and East Asia. But after breeding work and obtaining cold-resistant varieties of Peking, it was registered in Canada, the USA, Europe, Russia and other countries.

Beijing cabbage, resembling a regular salad, is a vegetable that has become an indispensable product for people of all ages living in different parts of the world.

Peking cabbage photo