According to a report in the Health News, whether to eat the outer stalks of Chinese cabbage is a concern for many people. From a nutritional perspective, the outer stalks contain significantly higher levels of nutrients such as chlorophyll and dietary fiber compared to the inner leaves and the cabbage heart. However, when deciding whether to eat the outer stalks, the following issues should also be considered:
A 73-year-old patient with a stomach ulcer came to see me. He told me that he had heard the outer stalks were nutritious, so he insisted on eating more. But every time he ate them, his stomach would hurt, and his appetite and food intake were greatly affected. This incident tells us that no matter how good a food is, it must be chosen according to one's own constitution. For patients with a stomach ulcer, it is not advisable to eat large amounts of food high in crude fiber. If you want to eat it, you should try to chop it as finely as possible before cooking.
There is another issue with the outer stalks of Chinese cabbage. Japanese scholars have found that pesticide residues on the outer leaves of Chinese cabbage are three times higher than on the inner leaves. Therefore, when eating Chinese cabbage, the outermost stalks should be peeled off and discarded. Although the inner leaves contain less pesticide, they still need to be washed one by one.
What kind of Chinese cabbage is tastier and safer? Those with tightly curled leaf tips and high density are generally more delicious. When you cut the cabbage, those with slightly yellowish color are better than those that are purely white.