Can sick people eat?
Whether you can eat Chinese cabbage or not is a question that often worries people with gastrointestinal diseases.
By the word “cabbage” everyone is accustomed to understanding round white cabbage growing in gardens. But there are other varieties of vegetables that are no less useful and nutritious for the human body, and consumption does not cause harm.
Chinese cabbage has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract . It contains vitamins: A, E, PP, B2, B6, ascorbic acid. The vegetable is valuable for its high content of proteins, carbohydrates, and pectin. Even a fairly large amount of fiber is not a contraindication, because the structure of the foliage is soft and delicate, it does not harm the mucous membrane, unlike the coarse dietary fiber of white cabbage.
Gastroenterologists for pancreatitis allow the use of Chinese cabbage, both fresh and after heat treatment.
Chemical composition and calorie content of the product
Cauliflower contains many nutrients. It contains antioxidants that reduce the effects of free radicals on the body. Of the phytonutrients, the vegetable contains a lot of vitamin B, which is necessary for the production of DNA and other genetic material, and is also involved in the process of cell division.
The vitamins C and K it contains increase immunity and protect cells from inflammatory processes.
100 g of raw cauliflower contains 25 calories, and also:
- 0 g fat;
- 5 g carbohydrates;
- 2 g protein.
Did you know? Cauliflower is believed to be native to the Mediterranean region. Here its history goes back more than 2000 years.
Like all vegetables, cauliflower is a carbohydrate. But not simple, but complex, with a lot of natural sugar, so it is perfect for people who control the amount of carbohydrates they consume and use a diet for weight loss, as well as for diabetics.
The vegetable contains no fat and contains very little vegetable protein. Therefore, if you need to add proteins to your diet, you will have to find another source of their supply.
Find out if cauliflower leaves are edible.
100 g of product contains (% of daily value):
- thiamine (B1) - 4%;
- riboflavin (B2) - 3%;
- niacin (B3) - 5%;
- vitamin B5 - 13%;
- vitamin B6 - 14%;
- vitamin C - 58%;
- vitamin E - 1%;
- vitamin K - 15%;
- calcium - 2%;
- iron - 3%;
- magnesium - 4%;
- manganese - 7%;
- phosphorus - 6%;
- potassium - 6%;
- sodium - 2%;
- zinc - 3%.
Benefits and harms
Thanks to its rich composition, eating Chinese cabbage allows you to cope with spring vitamin deficiency . It affects the nervous system as a sedative - this is a valuable quality for people with pancreatitis.
Nutritionists recommend including this product in your diet. It benefits not only the diseased pancreas, but also the gastrointestinal tract as a whole:
- stimulates intestinal motility;
- does not have an irritating effect on the organs of the digestive tract;
- fiber affects the digestion process, helps cleanse the body of waste and toxins.
It is not advisable to eat cabbage during exacerbation of pancreatitis . After all, a vegetable can aggravate the condition, provoke vomiting, nausea, colic, and bloating. When eating fresh cabbage, the epithelial organs of the gastrointestinal tract become inflamed, causing pain, and the general condition of the patient worsens. It is allowed to eat only stewed or boiled cabbage, and only in limited quantities.
You should know that Chinese cabbage should not be combined with dairy products, including cheeses. This may cause stomach upset.
Useful properties of cauliflower
We often hear from adherents of a healthy diet that we need to eat foods full of fiber, but this rule does not apply to patients with pancreatitis. Therefore, low calorie content and low fiber content are the main advantages of this vegetable for inflammation of the pancreas.
Also, this type of cabbage is rich in vitamins. It contains vitamins A and C. In addition, it is rich in minerals, including potassium, iron, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. A useful bonus is acids, namely citric, malic and tartronic.
The vegetable is well and easily absorbed by the body, while eliminating intestinal irritation and helping to eliminate constipation. Cauliflower for the pancreas is an excellent sedative and at the same time a moderate stimulant for gastric secretion. It saturates the human body with protein, antioxidants, etc. The presence of vitamin U promotes active neutralization of toxins.
In acute and chronic stages
Doctors recommend eating Chinese cabbage during remission . But it should be introduced into the menu slowly, observing the patient’s well-being. It is better to start tasting cabbage with a small piece. Over time, increasing the quantity. For the first time, the sheet must be doused with boiling water. If everything is in order, then the product is used as an ingredient for salads with fresh vegetables. Frequency of use – no more than 2 times every 7-10 days.
The maximum permissible daily portion of Chinese cabbage for the chronic stage of pancreatitis is 50-100 grams.
During the period of acute relapse, eating Chinese cabbage in its raw form should be stopped. It is recommended to prepare first courses from it or eat boiled as a side dish.
Recipes for approved dishes for pancreatitis
Once you have figured out whether it can be eaten, it is recommended to immediately begin studying a variety of recipes and creating your own healthy menu.
Vegetable soup
The most popular recipe is cauliflower soup for pancreatitis. It is prepared using fresh young inflorescences with the addition of other permitted vegetables. So, for example, you can take 0.5 kg of potatoes and cauliflower, 200 g of carrots and leeks, add 50 g of olive oil and a little salt.
Vegetables must first be washed and peeled. They are then chopped and added one by one to boiling water. The mixture should be brought to a boil and allowed to brew a little so that the ingredients develop their taste.
The finished dish should be served warm, seasoned with the permitted spices, and with the addition of a spoonful of low-fat sour cream. If desired, you can add a little chopped parsley or dill.
Cauliflower soup for pancreatitis is also perfect for the diet, especially during an exacerbation. It is easier to absorb and digest by the body without causing heaviness. You can take the above ingredients and simply, after the dish is ready, grind in a blender until pureed. For some, grinding it to a mushy state is suitable, so that the end result is a creamy soup.
Vegetable casserole
A delicious solution to the problem would be cauliflower casserole. To do this, boil 300 g of cabbage in lightly salted water. The pan should not be covered with a lid, and cooking lasts about half an hour.
Ready cabbage bunches are cut into small pieces of any shape. Then you should wash 50 g of fresh carrots, boil and peel them, then chop them on a coarse grater. Take 10 g of breadcrumbs and pour them into 30 g of low-fat milk.
Take a fresh egg and separate the white from the yolk. The white is whipped and the yolk is mixed with 5 g of butter. You should also grate 10 g of hard natural cheese. After this, everything is collected, mixed and sent to a baking sheet, which has previously been greased with butter.
The whole mass should be baked in the oven for about 15 minutes, after which you will get a tasty and aromatic dish. The output is about 250 g. True, you shouldn’t use this recipe in parts, so as not to cause exacerbations of the disease or other negative consequences.
Stewed side dish
Rinse the head of cabbage thoroughly and separate it into inflorescences. The vegetable should be placed in boiling, lightly salted water and cooked for 5-7 minutes.
Place the boiled cabbage in a saucepan, add grated carrots, chopped zucchini and a little onion. The mixture is poured with a small amount of water and vegetable oil, added some salt, and then simmered over low heat under a closed lid. The stewing time for a cabbage dish can be determined by the degree of readiness of the vegetables.
Features of use
People suffering from pancreatitis need to strictly adhere to a diet . Avoid pickled, hot or spicy Chinese cabbage. If individual tolerance is allowed, a small amount of pickled Chinese cabbage, prepared according to the traditional recipe, without unnecessary spices and additives, is allowed.
When preparing vegetables, you should pay attention to the following nuances:
- cut the green part into small pieces, thus reducing the load on the digestive system;
- minimize the amount of salt, hot pepper, seasonings;
- Cooking with other vegetables is allowed: carrots, zucchini, green beans.
You can view recipes for cooking Chinese cabbage here.
In what cases is cabbage contraindicated?
If you have pancreatitis, you should not eat cabbage fried in one way or another. But, in addition, some categories of healthy people use it with caution.
- Hidden risks of eating cauliflower:
- The cyanogenic glycosides it contains interfere with the absorption and digestion of iodine. And this can have a bad effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland. The main symptoms are: decreased metabolism, sensitivity to cold, dry hair and skin, difficulty thinking and weight gain.
- Another side effect is increased gas formation. Although it is not a disease, it is a problem that causes abdominal discomfort and bloating.
- Cruciferous vegetables contain complex carbohydrates that take a long time to digest. The process of their digestion is accompanied by the release of gases, which also leads to bloating.
- There are also problems with interactions with blood thinners. A large amount of vitamin K in cruciferous vegetables reduces the effectiveness of drugs whose effect is to enhance blood clotting.
Did you know? The term "cauliflower" comes from the Italian caoli fiori, which means "cabbage flower."
In all of the above cases, you should consult your doctor before consuming cruciferous vegetables in large quantities.
Which type is suitable?
Cabbage is a tasty and nutritious product and due to the presence of fiber and a number of vitamins: C, B1, B2, B3, B6, K, as well as provitamin A, nutritionists love this vegetable and include it in diets. But not every variety will please the pancreas.
In patients with pancreatitis, cabbage may only be available as a stewed option. A raw vegetable will be harmful to health because it tends to greatly irritate the gastric mucosa.
Its relatives: cauliflower, Peking, broccoli, seaweed have a beneficial effect on the activity of the pancreas.
Is it possible
In order not to harm your health, you should choose vegetable varieties that are allowed for illness. It is better to do this together with a doctor, since a person cannot always correctly assess his condition on his own.
Allowed varieties should be introduced into the diet in small portions.
Carefully monitor your body's reaction. If discomfort, heaviness, pain and other unpleasant symptoms appear after eating, you should discard the product and consult a doctor. If there is no negative reaction, you can gradually increase the dosage.
Beijing
Suitable for patients with the chronic stage of the disease. The leaves contain soft fiber and many useful substances: vitamins, minerals, pectins. The product is easily digested and does not create excessive stress on the digestive organs. Stewing and cooking are acceptable. Can be eaten in combination with zucchini and carrots, or added to vegetable stew.
In acute pancreatic inflammation, eating Chinese cabbage is not recommended.
Colored
This type of cabbage has a low fiber content. This low-calorie product helps eliminate waste and toxins, eliminates constipation, reduces acidity, and saturates the body with vitamins and minerals. You can eat it in the chronic stage of the disease in the form of puree or as an ingredient in other dishes. It is allowed to boil, stew without oil, bake, steam.
Broccoli
Broccoli is introduced into the diet after pumpkin and potatoes. This vegetable contains vegetable proteins, chlorophyll, and a large amount of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for the damaged gland.
Among the types of heat treatment, during exacerbation of the disease, preference should be given to cooking.
During remission, stewing and baking are acceptable. The vegetable will also be useful for cholecystopancreatitis.
Marine
Eating kelp will be beneficial for chronic pancreatitis. During an exacerbation, discard the seaweed.
Eating kelp will be beneficial for chronic pancreatitis.
Give preference to fresh and frozen kelp. You shouldn't buy pickled ones. Do not buy store-bought salads in plastic packages: they often add salt, spices, vegetable oil, and prohibited ingredients that irritate the mucous membranes of the patient’s internal organs. Before use, the seaweed must be subjected to heat treatment. Boil them or stew them without oil.
Savoy
If you have inflammation of the pancreas, savoy cabbage is prohibited. It stimulates the production of gastric juice and pancreatic enzymes, which may worsen the patient’s condition.
White cabbage
During acute pancreatitis and during exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, this vegetable is prohibited. It can be introduced into the diet only during stable remission.
It is better to eat a young plant.
It is acceptable to use a small amount of white cabbage as a secondary ingredient. Excessive consumption may harm the patient. A large amount of fiber can cause flatulence, bloating, discomfort, and pain.
White cabbage will help relieve bloating.
Red cabbage
Red cabbage contains a lot of fiber. In acute forms of the disease, you should not eat it. During stable remission, it is allowed to introduce a small amount of thermally processed vegetables into the patient’s menu.
You should carefully monitor your body's reaction to the product.
If unpleasant symptoms appear, you should immediately stop using this variety and consult a gastroenterologist.
Kohlrabi
If you have pancreatitis, it is not recommended to eat this variety. In case of stable remission, it is allowed to introduce a small amount of boiled or stewed kohlrabi into the diet.
Brussels
Brussels sprouts have a calming effect on the affected gland. In small quantities it will be useful for the patient. This product, rich in vitamins and minerals, can be eaten during stable remission. It is recommended to boil the vegetable, stew without oil or bake.
Brussels sprouts have a calming effect on the affected gland.
