Although not a rich food such as chicken, eggs or salmon, cabbage still plays an important role in the diet of bodybuilders thanks to its nutritional content and indirect impact on muscle building.
First of all, cabbage contains a lot of vitamin C - a powerful antioxidant that helps recover muscle tissue after exercise. Vitamin C also promotes collagen synthesis, supporting tendons and ligaments - structures that help move effectively. In addition, cabbage also contains vitamin K, potassium, calcium and folate. These are micronutrients that are necessary for the normal functioning of muscles and the nervous system.
What is special is that cabbage, especially purple cabbage, contains compounds that help balance testosterone in the body. Testosterone is a hormone that plays an important role in the development of muscle mass. Research also shows that cabbage contains compounds that can regulate hormones, supporting indirect muscle growth.
Cabbage- catching foods to combine to increase muscle
To maximize the benefits of cabbage, practitioners should eat lightly boiled, steamed cabbage or make a salad with olive oil; avoid stir-frying with too much fat that depletes nutrients.
To increase the effectiveness of cabbage in supporting muscle growth, it can be combined with other sources of protein for the diet. Foods that can be combined well are chicken breast, eggs, tofu or fish. These foods will help increase muscle synthesis efficiency.
Although it does not provide a high amount of protein directly, cabbage is still a "silent assistant" in the journey to build muscle thanks to its ability to support recovery, balance hormones and provide essential micronutrients.