Monday, November 10, 2008

Cabbage


One of the oldest known vegetables, the cabbage seems to always have been with us. It grew both East and West.Cabbage is a hardy vegetable that grows especially well in fertile soils. There are various shades of green available, as well as red or purple types. Head shape varies from the standard round to flattened or pointed. Most varieties have smooth leaves, but the Savoy types have crinkly textured leaves.

Health Benefits of Cabbage :

1. Cabbage contain phytonutrients, works to protect the body from free radicals that can damage the cell membranes.

2. Phytonutrients also signal our genes to increase its production of enzymes involved in detoxification.

3. Cabbage may lower the incidence of cancer, especially in the lung, stomach and colon prostate.

4. Cabbage is a muscle builder, blood cleanser and eye strengthener.

5. The juice of fresh raw cabbage has been proven to heal stomach ulcer.

6. Cabbage is rich in iron and sulfur.

7. Juice of fresh cabbage is effective in treating fungus infection(due to it sulfur content).

8. Cabbage can lower serum cholesterol.

9. Cabbage contain Sulforaphane, a substance that can increase the production of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes. Sulforaphane works by stimulating the production of glutathione, the body's most important internally produced antioxidant which plays a role in liver detoxification.

10.Red Cabbage has more phytonutrients than the green cabbage. The vitamin C content of red cabbage is 6-8 times higher than that of the green cabbage. Red cabbage contain anthocyanin (red pigment/color) is an antioxidant that can help protect brain cells, thus can help prevent Alzheimer's disease

Caution
Raw cabbage juice does not taste good at all. The taste is bitter and may be difficult to drink, although the benefits of its raw state is immense.
To make it easier on the taste buds, mix your cabbage juice with other juices like celery, pineapple, tomato or a citrus fruit. You may also try it with a little honey. I find that honey drowns the bitter taste pretty well.
Take raw cabbage juice in small amounts initially if you are unfamiliar with drinking vegetable juice, gradually increasing. Do not drink more than 200 ml at any one time.
Cabbage consumption may cause gas in some people, especially when cooked. Limit your cabbage intake if this is you.

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