Sauerkraut: the benefits and disadvantages of a familiar dish

The land is famous for an abundance of useful and tasty dishes. Everything grown in the earth has its positive properties, and in some cases acts on the body is simply life-giving. Of course, fruits and vegetables are the main source of vitamins, minerals and other substances that the body needs for a normal, healthy existence. Therefore, plant food has always been considered an indispensable attribute of any table.

However, like everything in this life, any fruit, vegetable, berry and so on can have contraindications to eating them. Some time ago, there were many cases when people were poisoned completely edible at first sight by plants and their fruits. One has only to recall the potato riots. Of course, now the civilization has advanced significantly, and cases such do not happen, but the harm and benefit of a product is still worth thinking about, especially if you have any disease.

Sauerkraut, the benefit and harm of which still causes controversy among nutritionists, is a product formed by the action of lactic acid. In the process of salt fermentation, cabbage juice is excreted , which also fermented shredded cabbage. Since ancient times, on the tables of the Slavic peoples, a dish under the simple name of sauerkraut was popular. Its use is undoubtedly indisputable. Russian boyars and princes considered this vegetable to be one of the main foodstuffs of their squad - the second bread, because there was no potato then. The source of incredible strength and health of the heroes was precisely sauerkraut. Benefits and harm, how to understand the properties of this product?

So, sauerkraut is a storehouse of vitamins needed by the body, such as C, A, PP, E, B, H (biotin). It also contains a large number of trace elements - phosphorus, calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, and macroelements - iodine, zinc, iron, copper, molybdenum, fluorine and chromium. Brine, in which sour cabbage, contains all the above vitamins and elements, and they can persist for eight months. This product increases stress resistance, strengthens immunity and cardiovascular system, enhances stimulation of erythrocyte production, regulates metabolism, and also positively affects male potency. Scientists have proved that the use of sauerkraut leads to a decrease in the body's level of cholesterol.

In addition, because of its low calorie content - only 40 kcal per 150 grams, sauerkraut is on the first place of the most popular diet for weight loss. According to the Polish diet, daily consumption of 150 grams of sauerkraut with black bread for two weeks leads to a noticeable weight loss, without complications for the body. Cabbage is also popular in cosmetology. Due to the presence of lactic acid, it excellently whitens the skin and helps to get rid of excessive pigmentation. Juice of sauerkraut is able to narrow the skin pores.

But not so simple was sauerkraut - the benefits and harm of it go side by side. There are a number of contraindications to the use of sauerkraut, which should be known. In limited quantities, it is indicated to people who have increased acidity of gastric juice and pancreatic diseases, with cholelithiasis, kidney failure, and also with hypertension. Increased salt content is characteristic for a product such as sauerkraut. Harm from its overeating can affect the operation of the pancreas. In sauerkraut, a very high content of organic acids, affecting the functions of the digestive system. Also, it should be used carefully by those who suffer from flatulence, because this product contains a large amount of mustard oil. But in small doses of sauerkraut restores the intestinal microflora. Brine is an excellent remedy for constipation and hemorrhoids.

Of course, this is not all the list of properties and actions that are inherent in such a wonderful product as sauerkraut. The benefits and harms of any cooked meal will undoubtedly depend on observing the sense of proportion. Therefore, in the use of products, look for the golden mean and be healthy!