Contents
The health benefits and harms of kohlrabi are always individual. To understand how to use the product correctly, you need to study its composition and properties, as well as get acquainted with contraindications.
What is kohlrabi cabbage
Kohlrabi cabbage is a type of white cabbage. Literally, the name of the product is translated as “cabbage turnip”, the nutritional value is a rounded small stem with leaves. The color of kohlrabi is white, green or purple, the flesh of the cabbage is very juicy.
There is a cabbage turnip from Northern Europe, and the first mention of it can be found in documents of the XNUMXth century. Currently, the product is used all over the world, and it is especially popular in Asian countries, India and China.
Kohlrabi is a vegetable similar to both cabbage and turnips.
The chemical composition of kohlrabi
Eating kohlrabi is very beneficial for health. Cabbage is saturated with valuable vitamins and minerals, it contains:
- vitamins of subgroup B – from B1 to B9, with the exception of B12;
- ascorbic acid – more than half of the daily norm;
- vitamins A, E and beta-carotene;
- nicotinic acid PP;
- silicon – over 230% of the daily requirement;
- potassium, phosphorus and magnesium;
- calcium and iron;
- sodium and selenium;
- fructose and glucose;
- fatty acid;
- cellulose.
About 7,9 g of the vegetable is occupied by carbohydrates, another 2,8 and 0,1 g each are proteins and fats. The calorie content of cabbage turnips is not too high – only 44 kcal per 100 g of pulp.
Taste of kohlrabi cabbage
The taste of the product is unusual and simultaneously resembles a turnip and a stalk of ordinary white cabbage. But at the same time, there is no bitterness in kohlrabi, as in a stalk, so it is much more pleasant to use it.
The taste of the vegetable is similar to a cabbage stump, but without bitterness.
What is useful kohlrabi
With regular use, the product has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the body. In particular, cabbage turnips:
- has an antioxidant effect and prevents the development of neoplasms in the body;
- improves the functioning of the intestinal tract and helps to regulate the stool;
- protects the stomach from ailments and cleanses the liver;
- removes toxins from the body, which contributes to rapid weight loss;
- helps to get rid of excess fluids and relieves swelling;
- has a mild sedative effect and is beneficial for stress and anxiety disorders;
- has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect;
- maintains the elasticity of blood vessels and protects the heart from ailments.
Since kohlrabi contains a lot of vitamin C, you can use the product to protect against seasonal viruses and colds.
What is useful kohlrabi for women
For the female body, cabbage turnips are of great benefit. First of all, the product promotes rejuvenation of the body and cell renewal, helps to delay the inevitable aging. Kohlrabi strengthens nails and hair, improves skin condition and slows down the appearance of the first wrinkles.
You can use the product for dietary purposes, cabbage very quickly normalizes metabolism and helps maintain harmony. With regular use, the product increases energy and vigor, has a beneficial effect on the quality of night sleep and fights stress.
The product helps women lose weight and improves skin condition
What is useful kohlrabi for the body of men
Kohlrabi cabbage can also benefit men. Since the product stimulates the work of blood vessels and the heart, against the background of its use, the likelihood of developing heart attacks and strokes is reduced.
Kohlrabi improves blood circulation, therefore it has a beneficial effect on the state of the reproductive system and increases potency. Adding cabbage to the diet is recommended for athletes, the product strengthens endurance and gives strength.
Harm of kohlrabi cabbage
With numerous beneficial properties, cabbage turnips can be harmful if used carelessly:
- If single dosages of the product are exceeded, allergic reactions and indigestion are possible. The daily dosage should be no more than 250 g of the product; it is advisable not to include cabbage in the diet every day.
- Eating cabbage pulp is not recommended at night. The product activates digestion and has a diuretic effect, so it can interfere with healthy sleep.
- Purchased kohlrabi cabbage may contain nitrates in its pulp and peel. Before cooking, it is recommended to soak the cabbage in water for half an hour to remove potentially harmful substances.
Kohlrabi can damage health with low quality or when consumed at night.
At what age can a child have kohlrabi
For children, kohlrabi vitamins can be beneficial. The vegetable will contribute to the healthy functioning of digestion, help strengthen the immune system and the vascular system of the child.
But you can offer a product to a baby only after 6 months of life. In this case, the cabbage must be subjected to heat treatment – boil or bake. The initial dosage should not exceed half a small spoon.
Contraindications to kohlrabi
In some diseases, cabbage pulp is not advised to be consumed, since the product can provoke exacerbations. Contraindications include:
- pancreatitis and stomach ulcer;
- gastritis with increased production of stomach acid;
- hypotension;
- peptic ulcer of the intestine;
- individual allergies.
It is not recommended to use kohlrabi in its pure form on an empty stomach. The product can provoke heartburn, belching and irritation of the mucous membranes.
In case of acute gastric ailments, the vegetable should be discarded
How to use kohlrabi
Before any processing, the vegetable must be peeled, and they do it like this:
- kohlrabi are washed in running water;
- cut off the top and bottom of the stem;
- With a sharp knife, carefully remove the peel over the entire area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe cabbage up to the pulp.
You can use cabbage turnip in different ways. First of all, kohlrabi is added to salads – the stem crop goes well with vegetables, herbs and apples. Also, cabbage can be boiled, baked and fried, stewed, processed in a double boiler and slow cooker. The vegetable is added to stews and meatballs, soups and pancakes, side dishes.
Peel kohlrabi in almost the same way as pineapple – cut off the peel from above, below and on the sides
How to use kohlrabi in traditional medicine
The medicinal properties of the product deserve attention – cabbage turnips can be used, among other things, for the treatment of ailments. Traditional medicine offers many vegetable-based recipes.
From cholecystitis
With exacerbation of cholecystitis, you can use fresh kohlrabi cabbage juice in combination with honey. The drug is prepared as follows:
- 2-3 small fruits of cabbage turnips are peeled;
- cut into small cubes and grind in a blender;
- the resulting slurry is passed through gauze, squeezing out fresh juice;
- mix the juice with 1 small spoon of honey.
It is necessary to take the remedy three times a day on an empty stomach. In total, treatment is continued for 2 weeks in the absence of negative reactions of the body.
Juice squeezed from the product helps with cholecystitis
From the common cold
Vitamin C and other beneficial components in the composition of the product can help with colds, runny nose and fever. For treatment, prepare such a drink:
- 100 ml of fresh juice is obtained from fresh pulp of cabbage turnip;
- mixed with 100 ml of slightly warmed milk;
- add 1 small spoon of natural honey;
- add half a small spoon of onion juice.
Take the mixture up to 6 times a day, 2 large spoons at intervals of a couple of hours. Usually only 1 day of treatment is enough for the first symptoms of a cold to subside.
Kohlrabi juice combined with honey and milk is useful for colds
For the heart and blood vessels
Kohlrabi effectively strengthens blood vessels, therefore, it is advised to use a remedy based on the product for hypertension and a tendency to heart disease. You can make this drink:
- squeeze 300 ml of juice from a fresh vegetable;
- mix with 2 small spoons of grapefruit juice.
The remedy is drunk 4 sips twice a day, it is necessary to continue therapy no longer than 10 days in a row.
Kohlrabi juice helps with hypertension
In pyelonephritis
The anti-inflammatory properties of kohlrabi cabbage help with kidney diseases. During an exacerbation, you can prepare a salad using the product according to this recipe:
- green apple and 150 g of kohlrabi are washed, peeled and finely chopped;
- mix the ingredients in a salad bowl;
- add 1 large spoon of olive oil and herbs to taste.
You can consume a healthy salad up to 2 times a day on a daily basis.
Salad with apples and cabbage can be used for kidney ailments
For gout
The medicinal properties of kohlrabi have a good effect on the accumulation of harmful salts in the joints. The following remedy is usually prepared:
- 250 ml of juice is obtained from a fresh vegetable;
- mix the juice with 1 large spoon of natural liquid honey;
- add some chopped walnuts.
The mixture is consumed 2 large spoons three times a day. You can continue treatment for a month in a row, after which you need to take a break.
Cabbage juice with nuts and honey is good for gout
With skin lesions
For wounds, abrasions and skin irritations, kohlrabi leaves can be used. The tops of the vegetable must be thoroughly washed, and then applied to the damaged area as a whole or chopped. The beneficial substances in the composition of the leaves will contribute to the rapid healing of the skin and will have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Vegetable tops can be applied to skin lesions
The benefits of kohlrabi in oncology
Among the useful properties of kohlrabi, it is customary to highlight its anti-oncological effect. The vegetable contains important antioxidants, including sulforaphane. This substance helps to suppress free radicals, prevents the spread of malignant cells and helps protect against the development of oncology.
It must be understood that cabbage turnips in cancer can only have an auxiliary effect. It is not a medical preparation, but is a useful food product.
It is very useful to include kohlrabi in the diet for the prevention and treatment of oncology, but only on the condition that traditional drug therapy is carried out at the same time. In addition, you first need to consult a doctor and make sure that there are no individual contraindications to the use of a vegetable.
In cancer, it is useful to use the product, but only in combination with drugs
kohlrabi cabbage for diabetes
Cabbage turnip has a low glycemic index, it is equal to 20 units. Therefore, with diabetes, eating a vegetable is usually allowed. Kohlrabi does not lead to a sharp increase in sugar levels and does not provoke a deterioration in the condition. Glucose and fructose, which are contained in the composition of the vegetable, are well absorbed by the body.
You can use kohlrabi for diabetes in salads and in a thermally processed form. The benefit of the product is that cabbage turnip strengthens the vascular walls and contributes to the good functioning of the pancreas. The valuable properties of the vegetable help prevent possible complications that often develop against the background of diabetes.
The glycemic index of the vegetable is low, so the sugar level does not rise.
Kohlrabi during pregnancy
Since cabbage turnip contains a huge amount of vitamins and minerals, it can be beneficial during the period of expectation of a child. In a woman, when using the product, the risk of developing beriberi is reduced.
Kohlrabi helps fight edema, which often occurs in the later stages, and prevents constipation, which also often affects pregnant women. Vitamins B in the composition of the product contribute to the healthy formation of the baby’s nervous system.
But when breastfeeding, it is better to remove kohlrabi from the diet. It is allowed to return the vegetable to the menu only 3 months after the birth, and at the same time, you need to use the product only in processed form. Cabbage turnip contains a lot of coarse dietary fiber and can cause colic in the baby, so it should be introduced into the diet of a nursing mother with great care.
Pregnant women and nursing mothers can use the product boiled
Conclusion
The health benefits and harms of kohlrabi accompany each other – a vegetable can support the body or cause harm. With moderate use and the absence of contraindications, the product will improve health and have a therapeutic effect. But you need to introduce kohlrabi into the diet in small quantities.
