Bones
and joints
begin to hurt more with aging. Walking, getting up suddenly, or a sudden movement can end badly. But
a vegetable helps soothe these pains
, according to a scientific study.
"
Arthritis
is swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. Its main symptoms are pain and stiffness, which usually worsen with age," explains the
Mayo Clinic
, a non-profit entity dedicated to clinical practice. education and research.
And they develop: "Osteoarthritis, one of the most common types, causes the cartilage, the hard and slippery tissue that covers the ends of the bones where they form a joint, to break."
Of course,
it is always important to consult a doctor
for certain symptoms to provide the best diagnosis and next steps.
Anyway, beyond any conventional medication and treatment, a randomized controlled trial on
cabbage leaf wraps for knee arthritis came to light.
Cabbage for knee and joint pain
In a section of the
British Medical Journal
, where interesting fragments are collected, an image was published of a woman who had stuck a cabbage leaf to her knee.
And he noted that this was the
only thing that relieved the symptoms of his osteoarthritis
, reports the NutritionFacts.org site
.
Classic and red Brussels cabbage. Its leaves are called "the poor man's poultice."
Some doctors reacted with bewilderment and others with astonishment, while some health professionals even acknowledged having resorted to this method against pain.
“Freshly washed cabbage leaves are known in European folk medicine as
'the poor man's poultice.'
That it helps reduce all types of painful inflammation is not new," they wrote.
What Science Says About Cabbage Leaves for Arthritis
“Efficacy of cabbage leaf wraps in the treatment of symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial” was the name of the research by the foundation of a former president of Germany and the first lady," they state in the article.
And they highlighted the need to study the situation given that “knee osteoarthritis is
one of the most common chronic diseases among older adults
.”
Joint problems. Photo: Getty Images
So, they randomly assigned sore patients to one of
3 treatments for 4 weeks
: a cabbage leaf on their knees every day, a topical pain gel containing an anti-inflammatory medication, or nothing at all.
The conclusions were clear: "The topical gel was no better than doing nothing, but
the cabbage leaf treatment really worked to reduce the intensity of the pain
," notes doctor Michael Greger.
However, in the final analysis it was not shown to be better than applying topical medication for 4 weeks.
Why eating cruciferous vegetables is good for your joints
Beyond external treatment, experts recommend that it wouldn't hurt
to eat cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables
because they have an
anti-inflammatory effect
when ingested.
"Brussels sprouts are packed with
vitamins, minerals and fiber
. And they support your immune system, blood and bone health," summarizes MedlinePlus, the US National Library of Medicine.
As the years go by, knee pain begins. Photo Shutterstock.
And they highlight that they have
antioxidants
, substances that can help stay healthy by preventing cellular damage in the body.
About the study, they state that In vitro, sulforaphane, the magic cabbage chemical,
protects cartilage from destruction
, suggesting that “it may be a useful measure to prevent or delay the progression of osteoarthritis.”
Other benefits of eating cabbage
Cabbages are an
important source of vitamin C
, as long as they are consumed raw or lightly cooked, they stand out on the
Body Mind portal.
They give examples with values: 100 grams of raw cabbage provides 120 mg of vitamin C. If it is cooked, 41 mg.
Eating cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower is recommended for health. Photo: Shutterstock
They also provide
B vitamins, vitamin A
in the form of beta-carotene, folic acid, selenium, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium and different flavonoids in significant doses.
On the other hand, they highlight that regular consumption of cabbages reduces the incidence of lung
, stomach, colon and skin cancer by half
thanks to its combination of antioxidants and sulfur compounds.