Amid rising food prices, Ukrainians continue to look for inexpensive but effective ways to maintain their health. British experts are paying attention to a vegetable that most people are accustomed to considering secondary in their diet - purple cabbage. It costs significantly less than "superfoods", but potentially affects key risk factors for the heart and blood vessels.
According to Professor Franklin Joseph of Dr Frank's Weight Management and Metabolic Health Clinic in London, purple (red) cabbage remains underrated: "It's one of the most powerful vegetables for improving well-being, but it's often undervalued. It's rich in fibre and antioxidants, which aid digestion and strengthen the body.".
Doctors emphasize that regular consumption of purple cabbage can help normalize blood pressure and maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Both of these indicators are critically important for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases - heart attacks, strokes, and hypertensive crises.
Why this cabbage?
Purple cabbage contains a large amount of fiber, which facilitates digestion, helps control weight and affects the blood lipid profile (the balance of "bad" and "good" cholesterol). In addition, it is rich in antioxidants, in particular anthocyanins - natural pigments that give cabbage its characteristic purple color and are associated with less inflammation of the vessels. In cardiology, chronic inflammation of the vascular wall is considered one of the factors in the development of atherosclerosis. This is consistent with what British doctors say when explaining why even simple vegetables can have a cardioprotective effect.
Another plus in times of high prices is its versatility. Purple cabbage is eaten in fresh salads, stewed, fermented, or added to warm side dishes. It is even used as a natural dye in dishes. That is, it is not a "diet for big money", but a normal affordable product that can be integrated into the daily menu without changing habits.
Doctors don't say that cabbage "cures" diseases or replaces a cardiologist's appointment. But they actually call it one of the simple tools of prevention: if the diet includes foods with fiber and antioxidants, it reduces the load on the blood vessels and helps keep blood pressure and cholesterol within safer limits. Such products are critically important now, when healthy eating is becoming a matter of budget for many.
