Chinese cabbage is also known as Beijing cabbage or pak choi or bok-choy while its scientific name is brassica pekinesis .

This vegetable belongs to the cruciferae family like the other types of cabbage but also like rocket and turnips. Its origin is lost in the Asian lands of China and East Asia where it is possible to find over 30 varieties of this Chinese cabbage.

Currently it is beginning to be cultivated a little all over the world including in Europe.

Chinese cabbage has a basket shape that can weigh up to 1.5 kg. We can recognize it from the similarity with the beet even if the basket of leaves is more closed and its long leaves of fleshy consistency are bright green on the outside and then lighten towards the light green almost white towards the heart of the basket.

The ribs are long and the color of these turns towards white or silver . Both the coasts and its leaves are eaten.

Chinese cabbage in the kitchen

The Chinese cabbage, although not yet very well known, immediately becomes a appreciated vegetable as soon as we start bringing it to our table.

In fact, its flavor is indicated both for the use of cooked and raw dishes from salads to soups, from fried with brine, from the pan to the oven and also combined with other vegetables or other ingredients.

Its versatile flavor makes it truly an excellent vegetable to experiment and even cooked only with steam it is delicious just think of the goodness of the spring rolls that see it as the main ingredient. Furthermore, its crunchy leaves with a delicate and only slightly bitter taste make it excellent as a raw vegetable for mixed salads and crudités.

Properties of Chinese cabbage

Chinese cabbage is rich in vitamins such as vitamin A, B2, C, K and folic acid . It is also composed of many mineral salts and in particular contains calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and sulfur. Its composition includes a good dose of vegetable fiber and active ingredients such as polyphenols, antioxidants and carotenoids .

Properties and benefits of Chinese cabbage

The composition of Chinese cabbage makes it an excellent vegetable rich in nutrients but at the same time a diuretic and a body detoxifier. The presence of mineral salts makes the Chinese cabbage an excellent supplement and even manages to be useful to counteract anemia given that it stimulates the production of red blood cells.

This composition also gives effective properties to combat water retention and therefore to combat cellulite and other problems of stagnation of body fluids.

Furthermore, the presence of mineral salts such as potassium and calcium see Chinese cabbage useful for reducing blood pressure. In fact this vegetable is recommended in diets for the control of the pressure also considering the low presence of sodium in the Chinese cabbage.

Chinese cabbage is also rich in antioxidants that have an anti-aging effect and therefore work by fighting free radicals circulating in our body and responsible for cellular aging.

This vegetable is therefore excellent for keeping the body young and in particular helps the detoxification of waste substances by eliminating them from the circulation and making the skin and all the tissues healthier.

The presence of fiber also makes the Chinese cabbage a good regulator of the intestinal system, favoring intestinal peristalsis and the good process of digestion and emptying of the faeces. In the case of constipation and bowel irregularity the Chinese cabbage becomes an excellent ally if included in our diet.

In addition, Chinese cabbage strengthens the immune system while also being rich in vitamin C and helps protect against typical seasonal diseases such as colds, flu and coughs.

Its composition with 19 kcal every 100 grams makes it an excellent low-calorie food and therefore suitable for those who want a light diet that helps to lose weight.

Chinese cabbage also contains many polyphenols and other nutrients make Chinese cabbage an excellent food with anticancer properties. Moreover it even manages to reduce circulating cholesterol and therefore helps for other degenerative diseases.

Finally, this Chinese cabbage is also a natural anti-inflammatory valent thanks to the presence of essential fatty acids such as omega-3s that 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.