Cabbage Soup is My Cure All

Feeling bloated? Cabbage soup. Feeling dragged down? Cabbage soup. Runny nose and cold symptoms? Cabbage soup. Headaches? Cabbage soup. Leaky faucet? Cabbage soup. No lie, my cabbage soup is my cure all.

After I had my daughter a couple of years ago, I lost most of my baby weight, only to put it back on. I decided to try the cabbage soup diet, and I have to say, when I stick to it, I lose weight. However, I haven't lost all that I want yet because, like I said.....when I stick to it.

I've never been a veggie eater more so because I can't handle the texture of them. So when I make it I can't say I actually "eat" the soup, but I drink the juice, and I'll even blend it up and add some boiled chicken to it. I feel like as long as I eat it, slurp it, whatever, it's getting into my body and I LOVE it.

Even though I haven't lost all my pre then post baby weight, I discovered that when I started eating cabbage, I felt better than I had in longer than I can remember. I have energy and don't feel all bogged down. At one time I had gone a week or two without eating any (when we went on vacation this summer) and I remember literally craving my soup. With all the eating on the road and fast food while we were on vacation, my body had become so sick feeling. I was miserable.

When I got home I instantly made me a batch of soup, and within the day I felt so much better. The only way I can describe it is like purification. I looked up the benefits of the cabbage and wasn't surprised. I had witnessed them before I even knew. I knew a little about it, but some facts I was surprised. My kids and the hubs love this soup as much as I do. Paul has stomach ulcers and since I've started making this soup, he hasn't had near the trouble with his ulcer. I found out why.

I knew a few things about cabbage like that it's low in fat and a good source of vitamin K. What I didn't know was......

• Cabbage is a better source of Vitamin C than even the orange. We all know that regular consumption of Vitamin C helps the body build up a resistance against infections and free radicals. Not only that, but it also helps with wear and tear in the body, treating ulcers, certain cancers, depressions and helps to heal damaged tissues.
• Steamed cabbage has a great effect on lowering cholesterol.
• Savoy Cabbage has been found to be a good source of sinigrin, which is one of the glucosinolates that has received special attention in cancer prevention research with respect to bladder, colon, breats, and prostate cancer. (Short cooked and raw form)
• Red Cabbage- did you know the color of red cabbage reflects its concentration of anthocyanin polyphenols, which contribute to it containing significantly more protective phytonutrients than green cabbage. These anthocyanin pigments interest researchers because of their health benefits as dietary antioxidants, as an anti-inflammatory and their potentially protective, preventative, and therapeutic roles in a number of diseases.
• A recent study showed that a 100 gram serving of raw red cabbage delivers 196.5 milligrams of polyphenols, of which 28.3 milligrams are enthocyanins. Green cabbage yields about half that.
• The vitamin C in red cabbage is also about 6-8 times higher than in green cabbage.
• Cabbage in general is well documented for assisting with inflammation making it very beneficial for people with arthritis, gout, and other such inflammatory diseases.
• Cabbage is great for digestion. It's been established for ages that cabbage juice helps heal stomach ulcers. Present day studies have made it clear that cabage contains a variety of nutrients of potential benefit to our stomach and intestinal linings. It provides proper regulation of the bacteria Helicobacter pylori inside the stomach. Helicobacter pylori is one of the biggest causes of acid reflux (heartburn).
• AHA!!! Cabbage is a great natural detoxifying food. It purifies the blood and removes toxins (primarily free radicals and uric acid) This is due to the high level of Vitamin C and also Sulfur in the cabbage.
• If you don't like seafood, cabbage is a great source of iodine which aids in proper function of the brain and nervous system.
• Some of the chemicals contained in cabbage are believed to accelerate the body's estrogen metabolism thus reducing the incidence of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer.

Even as I researched this hub, and wrote it, I learned new things about cabbage and preparation. I boil mine as a soup, which may not be the best way since they say it could decrease the nutrients in it. However, I drink all of the juice and even blend it into the soup, so surely I'm getting some benefit because I can feel it.

Here's how I make my soup.

• 1 head of green cabbage chopped(although I may be soon trying red)
• 1/2 onion chopped
• 4-5 sticks of celery chopped
• 1 large tomato sliced
• 12 c water
• 1-2 chicken, beef, or tomato bullion cubes (I like Knorr)

I put everything into the post and boil it on low to medium for about 30 to 45 minutes and eat and drink on it for the day.

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