Cabbage- Importance and Health Benefits

Cabbage is a leafy vegetable which has evolved from wild cabbage B.oleracea. Its colour can vary from green, purple or white and its weight ranges from 0.5 to four kilograms. It is a multi-layered vegetable which can grow in larger size in long sunlight days in cold weather. However, cabbage is prone to many nutrient deficiencies, multiple pests and fungal and bacterial diseases. In 2014, China was the largest contributor of cabbage accounting to 47% of the world and the world production was 71.8 million metric tonnes. Cabbage plants are 40-60cm tall in the first year and they grow up to 1.5-2 m in the second year. Most cabbages have thick and alternating leaves which varies from wavy to highly dissected. Cabbage have different types of leaves like crinkled-leaf, loose-headed and smooth leaf and their shapes are often oblate, round and pointed.

All forms of cabbage are leaves that are free from hairs and they are covered with a waxy coating, which gives a grey-green or blue-green colour. It grows best in mild to cold climate and also tolerates frost while some forms tolerate hard freezing at certain times. They cant grow much in hot weather as its quality and growth decrease. The stem of cabbage plant is much expanded to a bulbous structure. Hard-headed cabbage was developed in northern parts of Europe while soft headed cabbage like savoy was developed in southern parts of Europe. Those cabbages which are used for processing are larger and have a lower percentage of water. For cabbage, both mechanical and hand harvesting are used. The hand harvesting method is generally used for the cabbages which must be used for market sale. In this method, they are trimmed, sorted and packed directly at field. Cabbage can be stored at -1 to 2 degrees with a humidity of 90-100% for six months. But when it is stored under less ideal conditions then also it can last up to four months. Consumption of cabbage also varies widely with Russia being the largest consumer followed by Belgium then the Netherlands and then Spain.

Cabbage is a rich source of vitamins like C and K. It can also be used as a herbal medicine for a variety of health benefits. Cabbage juice is used as an antidote for mushroom poisoning and is also believed to cure alcoholics. It is also used to prevent sun stroke or to cool fever affected body parts. But there are also certain disadvantages of consuming cabbage. Excessive consumption may result in increased intestinal gas and reduced blood sugar levels. It can also lead to food borne illness. Cabbage contains lot of insoluble fibre which can be problematic if taken in excess.