Cabbage is formed of clusters of thick leaves that come in green, white and purple colors.
It belongs to the Brassica family, along with Brussels sprouts, kale and broccoli (12Trusted Source).
Vegetables in this plant family contain glucosinolates, which give them a bitter flavor.
Animal studies have found that foods that contain these plant compounds may have cancer-protective properties, especially against lung and esophageal cancer (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).
Another benefit of cabbage is that it can be fermented and turned into sauerkraut, which provides numerous health benefits, such as improving your digestion and supporting your immune system. It may even aid weight loss (15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).
Summary
Cabbage has thick leaves and comes in various colors. It has cancer-protective properties and can be turned into sauerkraut, which offers additional health benefits.