Il Chinese cabbage it is also known as Peking cabbage or pak choi or bok-choy while its scientific name is brassica pekinesis.
This vegetable belongs to the cruciferous family like other types of cabbage but also like rocket and turnips. Lat its origin it is lost between the Asian lands of China and East Asia where you can find over 30 varieties of this Chinese cabbage.
It is currently beginning to be cultivated all over the world including in Europe.
Chinese cabbage has a basket shape which can weigh up to 1,5 kg. We can recognize it from the similarity with chard even if the basket of leaves is more closed and its long ones leaves of fleshy texture they are bright green on the outside and then lighten towards the almost white light green towards the heart of the basket.
The coasts are long and the color of these turns to white or silver. Both the ribs and its leaves are eaten.
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Chinese cabbage in the kitchen
Chinese cabbage, even if not yet well known, immediately becomes an appreciated vegetable as soon as we begin to bring it to our table.
In fact, its flavor is suitable for both the use of cooked and raw dishes from salads to soups, from sautéed to brine, from the pan to the oven and also combined with other vegetables or other ingredients.
Its versatile flavor makes it a truly great vegetable to experiment with and even cooked only by steaming it is delicious just think of the goodness of the spring rolls that see it as the main ingredient. In addition, its crunchy leaves with a delicate and only slightly bitter flavor make it excellent as a raw vegetable for mixed and raw salads.
Properties of Chinese cabbage
Chinese cabbage is rich in vitamins such as vitamina A, B2, C, K andfolic acid. It is also composed of many mineral salts and in particular it contains calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and sulfur. Its composition includes a good dosage of vegetable fiber and active ingredients such as polyphenols, antioxidants and carotenoids.
Properties and benefits of Chinese cabbage
La composition of Chinese cabbage makes it an excellent vegetable rich in nutrients but at the same time a diuretic and a detoxifier of the body. The presence of mineral salts makes Chinese cabbage an excellent supplement and even manages to be useful for counteracting anemia as it stimulates the production of red blood cells.
This his composition it also gives effective properties to combat water retention and therefore to counteract cellulite and other problems of stagnation of body fluids.
Furthermore, the presence of mineral salts such as potassium and calcium they see Chinese cabbage useful for lowering blood pressure. In fact, this vegetable is recommended in diets for pressure control, also considering the low presence of sodium in Chinese cabbage.
Chinese cabbage is also rich in antioxidants which have an anti-aging effect and therefore act by fighting the free radicals circulating in our body and responsible for cellular aging.
This vegetable is therefore excellent for keeping the body young and in particular it helps the detoxification of waste substances by eliminating them from the circulation and making the skin and all tissues healthier.
The presence of fiber also makes Chinese cabbage a good regulator of the intestinal system promoting intestinal peristalsis and the good process of digestion and emptying of feces. In case of constipation and intestinal irregularity, Chinese cabbage becomes an excellent ally if included in our diet.
In addition, the Chinese cabbage strengthens the immune system being also rich in vitamin C and helps protect against seasonal diseases such as colds, flu and coughs.
Its composition with 19 kcal per 100 grams makes it an excellent low-calorie food and therefore suitable for those who want a light diet that helps lose weight.
Chinese cabbage also contains a lot of polyphenols and other nutrients make Chinese cabbage an excellent food with anti-cancer properties. It even manages to reduce the cholesterol circulating and therefore helps for other degenerative diseases.
Finally, this Chinese cabbage is also a valuable anti-inflammatory natural thanks to the presence of essential fatty acids such as omega 3 which allow a reduction of inflammatory states at all levels from autoimmune diseases to those of the heart to counteract the more chronic states of inflammation.
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