Peking, or Chinese cabbage, being a native of Asia, today has gained popularity in European countries. How it is useful for men and women, how to store and choose a vegetable, as well as how to use it for different purposes - you will learn from the article.
The benefits of Beijing cabbage
This cabbage in the world has other names:
- napa;
- Petsay;
- salad;
- Chinese salad.
It has a large number of vitamins and minerals, which contains twice as much as in the white-skinned variety or leaf lettuce, has a low calorie content, which makes Petsai an indispensable product in the diet. In addition, Beijing cabbage is grown without the use of chemicals to kill parasites. Consider how it is beneficial to health.For the body of women
Chinese salad contains iron, which is necessary for women, especially pregnant women, because the element:
- reduces the likelihood of anemia;
- has a beneficial effect on the blood vessel system;
- reduces the feeling of drowsiness and prevents overwork.
Important! For safety, before using the vegetable during pregnancy, it is worth washing it well and scalding it with boiling water.
With a lack of iron in a woman’s body, there is a risk of developing chronic fatigue, regular headache, and a decrease in blood pressure. The unpleasant effects of iron deficiency also include brittle hair and nails and a feeling of dry mouth. Folic acid present in the vegetable promotes the synthesis of red blood cells.
When planning and bearing children, it is especially necessary, as it prevents the appearance of birth defects in the unborn child. The required dose of Beijing cabbage for a pregnant woman is 200 grams twice a week. Eating a vegetable during a diet, a woman will not gain weight, because this product perfectly satisfies hunger and energizes, without affecting kilograms.
For the body of men
The benefits of Chinese salad for men is that it is a low-calorie product that combines vitamins and minerals responsible for the metabolism and absorption of amino acids, and a high content of vegetable protein, which is involved in building muscle tissue. The product brings significant benefits due to the presence of vitamin K, which contributes to blood coagulation, as well as bone growth.
Did you know? In Japan, Beijing cabbage is used not only for cooking, but also for decorative purposes.
Lack of this substance can lead to abnormal bone fusion and the appearance of deposits on the walls of blood vessels. Also, the use of petsai reduces inflammatory processes, including in the area of the prostate gland, which in turn affects the potency of a man.
The composition of Beijing cabbage
The composition of fresh Beijing cabbage is substantial, since the vegetable includes:
- micro and macro elements: iron, iodine, zinc, potassium;
- vitamins of groups C, K, B, PP, E, A;
- mineral salts;
- amino acids;
- ascorbic, nicotinic and folic acids;
- lutein and zeaxatin, which positively affect visual acuity;
- fiber that removes toxins and toxins from the body.
Calorie content
The product belongs to low-calorie. There are 13 kcal per 100 grams, while in other varieties of cabbage, calories are 30 kcal per 100 grams.
Important! People with diabetes need to follow a strict diet, so you need to consider how many carbohydrates are in Beijing cabbage in order to calculate the rate of consumption of this vegetable.
Nutritional and energy value
Chinese salad contains:
- water - 94 g;
- protein - 1 g;
- fats - 0.3 g;
- carbohydrates — 1.2 g;
- fiber - 1.7 g.
Possible harm and contraindications for diseases
Despite its beneficial properties, excessive inclusion of petsai in the diet can be harmful, as a passion for such food can cause indigestion, nausea, and dizziness.
- In addition, the vegetable should not be eaten by patients:
- pancreatitis
- gastritis with high acidity;
- stomach ulcer;
- enteritis.
It also harms those suffering from heartburn and reflux. Excessive consumption of the vegetable is not recommended for people with increased blood density, prone to thrombophlebitis. It is necessary to limit the use of vegetables to women during breastfeeding. The appearance of cabbage of any kind in the baby's body can cause bloating and colic. Is it possible to eat petsai with a chronic disease of the digestive tract, it is necessary to discuss with the doctor.
Did you know? Charles Darwin was of the opinion that all varieties of cabbage were bred from one wild-growing species. Based on this assumption, the vegetable has the property to create new species.
Selection and storage tips
To benefit from the use of the product, you need to choose and store it correctly.
When choosing, follow these rules:
- color should be light green;
- leaves - without defects, of the same color and evenly fit together;
- there should be no mucus between the leaves;
- yellowed leaves indicate the staleness of the product;
- when inspecting the heads, you need to squeeze slightly - the fresh one does not deform.
Beijing cabbage, unlike white cabbage, is stored for a short time. So that the vegetable does not lose useful substances during storage, you need to do this correctly. Store the product in the refrigerator at high humidity, previously placing it in a plastic bag or wrapping it with cling film. In this form, the product can last about 14 days.Important! Without packaging, cabbage is stored separately from apples, since they emit ethylene, which negatively affects the safety of the vegetable.
Recommendations for use
Petsai can be used not only for cooking, but also for medical as well as cosmetic purposes. Since heat treatment destroys a certain amount of useful properties of a vegetable, it is better to use it fresh.
In cooking
Salads and appetizers are prepared from Beijing cabbage, to which it gives freshness and juiciness. Also, the vegetable can be stewed, boiled, steamed and baked in the oven.
It is combined with such ingredients:
- cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- bell pepper;
- legumes;
- corn;
- boiled eggs;
- different types of meat.
For dressing salads use light sauces, mayonnaise, sour cream, vegetable or olive oil. It can be used for making soups, side dishes, main dishes, pies. Stuffed cabbage is also prepared from vegetables, because the leaves for their preparation are easily separated and do not require boiling - just pour them over with boiling water.Any filling is selected: meat, mushroom, fish or vegetable. The taste of these cabbage rolls is delicate and soft. Traditional for Asian cuisine is pickled Beijing cabbage. The cooking procedure is practically no different from the classic fermentation of vegetables. It is also pickled, dried and salted, preparing the product for the winter.
For medicinal purposes and in cosmetology
- Chinese salad is used in the treatment of:
- vascular disease;
- asthma
- insomnia
- hypertension
- Alzheimer's disease;
- oncological diseases;
- sore throats;
- inflammation of the skin.
Since the product is low-calorie, but it contains a large amount of fiber, it is used for therapeutic diets and for weight loss. In cosmetology, Beijing cabbage juice serves as an ingredient in face masks that rejuvenate and restore skin elasticity.
A vegetable mixed with lemon juice is used as a lotion to narrow the pores and regulate the sebaceous glands, if necessary, to remove the inflammation of the epidermis. Cabbage juice also relieves itching and irritation of the skin.
Chinese salad is a valuable and healthy product for the human body. If you are not in the group of those to whom this vegetable is contraindicated, be sure to include it in your diet to replenish the necessary supply of vitamins and energy.
