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napa cabbage also called Chinese cabbage
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may not be the first vegetable that
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comes to mind when you think about heart
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health but it's one of those quiet
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nutritional champions that delivers
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powerful benefits without making a fuss
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mild in flavor and crunchy in texture
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nappa cabbage is commonly used in Asian
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cuisines in soups stir fries dumplings
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and fermented into kimchi but beyond its
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culinary versatility it's packed with
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compounds that actively support
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cardiovascular health in ways that truly
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matter let's start with folate a B
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vitamin that plays a crucial role in
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protecting the heart folate helps lower
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levels of homocyine in the blood an
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amino acid that when elevated is
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associated with a higher risk of heart
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disease and stroke by keeping homocyine
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in check folate helps prevent damage to
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the blood vessels and keeps the
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cardiovascular system functioning
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smoothly nappa cabbage is a natural
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plant-based source of this important
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nutrient making it an excellent choice
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for supporting heart health through your
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daily meals next up is potassium a
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mineral that's essential for regulating
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blood pressure high blood pressure is a
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major risk factor for heart disease and
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potassium helps counteract the effects
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of sodium by relaxing blood vessel walls
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and promoting fluid balance a diet rich
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in potassium helps reduce strain on the
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heart and supports healthy
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circulation nappa cabbage offers a
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gentle consistent source of potassium
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without the calories or added sodium
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found in processed foods making it a
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smart addition to any heart-conscious
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diet another big plus nappa cabbage is
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high in antioxidants particularly
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vitamin C and a variety of plant-based
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phytonutrients these antioxidants help
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fight oxidative stress which occurs when
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there's an imbalance between free
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radicals and your body's ability to
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detoxify them oxidative stress can
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damage cells including those that line
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your blood vessels leading to
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inflammation and an increased risk of
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the antioxidants in nappa cabbage help
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neutralize free radicals reduce
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inflammation and protect the arteries
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keeping your heart healthier over time
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nappa cabbage also offers a good amount
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of fiber especially when consumed raw or
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lightly cooked dietary fiber is known
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for its cholesterol-lowering effects
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particularly soluble fiber which binds
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to LDL bad cholesterol in the digestive
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system and helps remove it from the body
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a fiber richch diet helps reduce the
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buildup of cholesterol in the arteries
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lowering the risk of heart disease and
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supporting better digestive health as a
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bonus and let's not forget vitamin K
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nappa cabbage is a great source of this
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often overlooked nutrient which plays a
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role in blood clotting and maintaining
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the flexibility of blood
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vessels vitamin K helps prevent calcium
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buildup in the arteries a contributor to
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arterial stiffness and heart
