The Health Benefits of Purple Cabbage

The purple cabbage is a variety of the head cabbage that grows close to the ground and has abundant leaves that are removed prior to cooking. European farmers developed the head cabbage in the Middle Ages. Today, growers in California, Texas, Georgia and New York cultivate the vegetable. Raw purple cabbage is often tossed into salads and when cooked, adding lemon juice preserves its purple color.

Fiber

A 1-cup serving of chopped purple cabbage provides 2 grams of fiber, or 8 percent of the 25-gram daily value as recommended by the Food and Drug Administration. Dietary fiber prevents excess cholesterol from entering your bloodstream through the wall of your small intestine; the fiber absorbs the cholesterol and excretes it through the waste elimination process.

Potassium

The potassium content in 1 cup of chopped purple cabbage is 216 milligrams. Potassium keeps your body's fluid level from fluctuating to unhealthy volumes, and the Institute of Medicine recommends consuming 4.700 milligrams a day to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. Potassium also prevents heart muscle stress by supporting the contraction that fuels your heartbeat.

Vitamin C

The vitamin C content in purple cabbage is nutritionally significant. A 1-cup serving provides 51 milligrams, or 85 percent, of the 60-mg daily requirement. Cooking decomposes some of the nutrient. Raw purple cabbage contains a higher level of vitamin C than it does when cooked. Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant. It protects cells from the DNA and compositional destruction that metabolic toxins often cause.

Vitamin A

The vitamin A content in purple cabbage is 20 percent of the 5000 IU required each day, or 993 IU per 1-cup serving. Vitamin A is a nutrient that provides a variety of functions in your body. It produces retina pigments for your eyes, maintains vision health and improves vision at night. It also supports your body's immune response, reducing your risk of microbial infection.