Despite being relatively cheap and easy to cook, cabbage is also packed with vitamin C, fiber, and vitamin K, making it a stapple in many cuisines around the world.
This highly nutritious vegetable, which is often overlooked, comes in a variety of shapes and colors, including red, purple, white, and green.
Among the rest, the cabbage “is rich in vitamin B6 and folate, both of which are essential for many important processes in the body, including energy metabolism and the normal functioning of the nervous system.”
Further, it is high in fiber and contains powerful antioxidants, especially vitamin C that may protect against heart disease, certain cancers, and vision loss.
On top of that, cabbage helps reduce chronic inflammation, improves digestion, and helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Despite the plethora of benefits it offers for the human health, there are certain people who should avoid including cabbage in their diet.
1. People With Thyroid Conditions
Cabbage, like other cruciferous vegetables, contains goitrogens that may interfere with thyroid function, especially if consumed in large quantities. Goitrogens can make it harder for your thyroid to get the iodine it needs, which can disturb hormone production and affect your health.
So, if you experience thyroid issues, especially goiter (an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland) approach cabbage with care.
2. People With Digestive Sensitivities
Cabbage can cause bloating and gasses due to the raffinose it contains, a complex carbohydrate that the human body cannot fully digest. When it reaches the intestines, it ferments and produces gas.
3. People Prone to Allergies or Eye Irritation
Due to the histamines it contains, consuming cabbage can trigger an allergic reaction at people prone to allergies that can manifest in a form of a rash, itching, watery eyes, sneezing, or even eye bleeding.
4. People With Kidney Problems
People who experience kidney issues should avoid eating cabbage because of the oxalic acid it contains. This acid can bind with minerals like calcium and form kidney stones.