White cabbage is one of the most common vegetable plants grown and consumed by many peoples of the world. Such popularity is due primarily to its proven benefits to the human body. Moreover, not only a fresh vegetable plant, but also a pickled one can provide useful actions. You will learn more about the beneficial effects of sauerkraut on men's health from the article.

Chemical composition and calorie content

Many people love cabbage not only because of its taste, but also because it is low-calorie both fresh and pickled. And precisely because of this fact, nutritionists advise it to use. Calorie content of 100 g of pickled product is 23 kcal.

The benefit of a vegetable plant is determined by its rich chemical composition. First of all, pickled product is valuable in its high content of ascorbic acid. When eating 300 g of cabbage, a person can provide the body with a daily need for this substance.

Did you know? A cabbage weighing 63 kg was obtained by U.S. resident Scott Robb in 2012. Typically, heads of cabbage, depending on the variety, can reach a maximum weight of 15 kg, and the average weight is 2.5 kg.

Fermented cabbages are also rich in vitamin A (0.1% / 100 g of the daily norm for humans), B1 (1.3%), B2 (1.1%), B4 (2.1%), B5 (1.9 %), B6 ​​(6.5%), B9 (6%), E (0.7%), K (10.8%), PP (3%).

Of the macronutrients, they have a lot of sodium - 150 g contains the daily norm of this element. Also present are potassium (12% / 100 g), calcium (4.8%), magnesium (4%), sulfur (0.9%), phosphorus (3.9%).

A pickled vegetable plant is able to satisfy the need of the human body for such trace elements as iron (3.3%), manganese (7.6%), copper (9.6%), selenium (1.1%), fluorine (0.2 %), zinc (1.6%), as well as in the polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega-3 (3.7%) and Omega-6 (0.7%).

100 g contains 1.8 g of protein, 0.1 g of fat, 3 g of carbohydrates, 2 g of dietary fiber and 89 g of water.

Properties of sauerkraut for men

As you can see, sauerkraut is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals for humans. This is especially important for the winter period, when there is not a large number of vegetables, fruits and berries.

Did you know? Today it is known that the first to start cooking sauerkraut were the Chinese. The documentary sources describe that back in the 3rd century. BC e. they soaked it in rice wine and fed the builders working on the Great Wall of China .

Benefits and healing properties

One of the main useful properties of pickled product is a beneficial effect on the functioning of the digestive system. It is able to normalize the microflora and intestinal motility, enhance appetite, and produce a cleansing effect.

Sauerkraut brine is recommended to drink for those who have gastritis with low acidity, impaired bile secretion, irregular bowel movements, hemorrhoids, pancreatic instability, flatulence, microflora imbalance.

Traditional medicine for such problems recommends consuming half a glass of brine twice a day before meals.

Cabbage, prepared by the method of fermentation, must be eaten in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases, as well as people who already have problems in the work of the heart and blood vessels. The product promotes the elimination of "bad" cholesterol and the purification of blood vessels.

A vegetable plant is allowed to be used by people who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It does not increase blood sugar if it is prepared by prescription without added sugar.

Learn more about the beneficial properties and contraindications to the use of sauerkraut juice.

Sauerkraut is included in some diets and is advised to be used by those who monitor the state of their figure and want to get rid of extra pounds. The product saturates the body, but at the same time has a low calorie content, and fiber contributes to its natural cleansing.

The presence of vitamins from group B in a dish has a positive effect on the nervous system and helps the body overcome stress without harm to health.

The juice secreted during cooking has an antiseptic effect. They can gargle with pain and inflammation, mouth with bleeding or swelling of the gums.

Men are advised to use leaven daily in moderate doses to increase potency and to preserve it as long as possible. Fans of frequent feasts also will not hurt to eat this product, as it relieves the symptoms of a hangover.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the great benefits, sauerkraut can not be eaten by everyone.

• This product is contraindicated for men who have the following health problems:
• acute forms of gastrointestinal diseases, pancreatitis;
• hypertension;
• serious heart disease requiring special nutrition;
• increased acidity of the stomach;
• edema that occurs due to disturbances in the activity of the cardiovascular system;
• kidney disease, in which it is forbidden to eat salty foods;
• gallstones and kidney stones.

Learn more about the features of sauerkraut in pancreatitis.

Buying Rules

Of course, only a quality product can benefit. If you do not cook it yourself, but prefer to use one that is purchased in a store or in the market, then you need to know what criteria should be chosen.

To help you with this, we have collected 7 tips on how to choose the cabbage prepared by the fermentation method:

1. When purchasing a packaged product, you should carefully study its composition. It should not contain vinegar and citric acid.
2. In the market, it is better to give preference to cabbage, which is sold from a wooden tub. She needs to be examined and sniffed well. The smell should be pleasant and appetizing.
3. A quality product should be white-golden in color, possibly with a pink tint. It is worth abandoning the purchase of cabbage, in the color of which there is a gray color and any kind of spots, signs of mold.
4. High-quality brine is characterized by ductility, slight mucousness.
5. If this is possible, then the product should be tasted. You need to buy only one that crunches when chewing. Softness indicates that the product is improperly prepared or already stale. Hardness - that cabbage was poured with boiling water before cooking, which means that it no longer has a number of useful elements.
6. The taste of a quality sourdough should be fresh, sour and salty.
7. It is important to give preference to cabbage, which is chopped large. So it stores more vitamins and minerals.

Important! If sauerkraut is cooked correctly and stored at a temperature of –1 ... + 4 ° С, then it can be consumed for 8 months. It is during such a time period that it retains its useful properties.

Rules for the use of sauerkraut

The described product is allowed to be consumed daily, but not to exceed 200 g. If the norm is exceeded, negative consequences can develop - eating disorders, flatulence, fluid retention in the body.

In what areas is applied

A crispy snack with a specific smell is used both in ordinary time and during the feast.

It can be consumed in pure form with the addition of vegetable oil, as well as added to various winter salads. Sauerkraut is one of the ingredients of cabbage soup, hodgepodge. It is stewed, served with side dishes, put as a filling in pastries and dumplings.

In addition to cooking, pickled product is used in folk medicine, as well as in cosmetology for the preparation of face masks.

Important! It is possible to extend the shelf life of sauerkraut while preserving most of the nutrients by freezing. The frozen product is suitable for use throughout the year.

So, sauerkraut is a tasty and healthy product that can have a number of beneficial effects on the male body. However, benefits are achieved only with moderate use. Before eating, you should familiarize yourself with the list of categories of people to whom this product is contraindicated.