Cabbage juice benefits and side effects

Cabbage Juice is far from the most common vegetable juice available but it happens to be packed with beneficial nutrients, antioxidants and minerals. It is a mildly flavored juice derived from cabbage leaves, which belong to a number of different cultivars in the Brassica oleracea species. It is widely cultivated around the world for its hearty, nutrient-dense leafy heads, which are popularly used in culinary preparations, from salads and stews to pickled forms and health juices. To make cabbage juice, you should use the dense middle of the cabbage head, although you can also throw in a few of the outer leaves. The flavor of cabbage juice is also mild, making it ideal for subtly blending with other vegetable or fruit juices.

The juice from cabbage leaves is packed with nutrients, which surprises many people. A single glass of cabbage juice can deliver significant amounts of vitamin K, vitamin C, calcium, iron, potassium, glutamine, phosphorus, iodine, vitamin A, B-family vitamins, Vitamin E and various phyto nutrients, enzymes and antioxidant compounds. When you choose to juice cabbage, rather than eat it, you will be missing out on the dietary fiber cabbage is rich in. Next time you want to try a simple, inexpensive and nutrient rich vegetable juice, prepare your own cabbage juice at home and enjoy its many surprising benefits.


Health Benefits of Cabbage Juice

Some of the most impressive health benefits of cabbage juice include healing the skin, balancing hormone function, detoxifying the body, boosting the immune system, lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol levels, aiding in weight loss efforts, and stimulating cognition.

Ulcer recovery from Cabbage Juice

Cabbage juice is a safe and effective natural remedy for the treatment of ulcers. It contains natural sources of L-glutamine, S-methyl methionine, gefarnate and glucosinolates, which can help protect the stomach and digestive tract by healing the mucous membrane lining.

It balances the acidity levels in the stomach and reduces the presence of stomach ulcers. Due to the presence of sulforaphane and other natural enzyme, the mucus lining of your stomach will be strengthened and it will be much harder for peptic ulcers to form. In fact, studies have shown that drinking 4-6 cups of cabbage juice per day can eliminate stomach ulcers in under two weeks.

According to the study, 13 patients with peptic ulcers were treated with fresh cabbage juice. The study indicated that the healing time for these 13 patients was rather fast at 10 days. Meanwhile, patients who used standard therapy take approximately 37 days to heal.

The study stated that cabbage juice has anti-peptic ulcer benefits known as vitamin U, which prevents histamine-induced peptic ulcers from forming.


Cancer prevention from Cabbage Juice

Eating a diet high in cruciferous vegetables can reduce the risk of breast cancer and this is the reason it is one of the best 14 foods for cancer prevention and it is also one of the ingredients of this giant cancer fighting salad.

According to a research published in the International Journal of Cancer, a great intake of vegetables such as cabbage was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer.

The study indicated that there was a strong inverse reaction between breast cancer and the following fruits and vegetables: dark green leafy vegetable, cruciferous vegetables such as Chinese cabbage and cabbage, carrots and tomatoes, mushrooms and fungi.

This research was supported by a study published in the Annals of Oncology, which found that eating cruciferous vegetables at least one a week significantly reduced the risk of oral, esophagus, colorectal, breast and kidney cancers. The results of the study concluded that cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage can be used to prevent the development of several cancers.


Recovery from bad cholesterol

Numerous studies have found that regular consumption of cabbage juice can help to lower your LDL cholesterol levels, which is the ‘bad’ form of fat that can lead to heart issues. By balancing your cholesterol levels, this juice can help with weight loss and improve heart health.

Results shows that patients who drink the broccoli and cabbage beverage reduce their LDL-cholesterol levels (also known as the ‘bad’ cholesterol). The patients who drink the beverage that do not contain broccoli and cabbage have insignificant results.


Weight Loss by Cabbage juice

Cabbages are also one of the vegetables that can help you lose weight by ‘resetting’ your hormones for a faster weight loss. It is naturally low in calories, making it a healthy weight loss beverage. Drink cabbage juice in place of higher calorie beverages including commercial fruit juice to help you lose weight. It is extremely low in calories, coming in at only 18 calories in a glass. However, this juice is also quite nutrient-dense and can help your body feel full. This will lower your risk of snacking between meals and overeating, making this type of vegetable juice an ideal part of a weight-loss diet.


Beautiful Skin from drinking Cabbage Juice

Cabbage juice is loaded with antioxidants and phytochemicals, which can do wonders for your skin. It also has a high vitamin C content. Vitamin C is important in promoting a healthy skin, and is a common ingredient in skin care products. Lack of vitamin C contributes to dry skin, reduced elasticity and easy bruising. It also makes it more difficult to heal the skin. Vitamin C is also one of the top vitamins for a healthy skin.


Maintaining Blood pressure levels

This mild juice offers a healthy dose of potassium, which means lower blood pressure due to its function as a vasodilator. This can reduce strain and tension in your blood vessels and arteries, which thereby lowers your risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke, while also improving muscle function and nervous system communication.


Brain Booster

Research has connected some of the active ingredients in cabbage juice, namely the anthocyanins and vitamin K, to improve brain function and lower depositions of plaque in the neural pathways. In combination with the other antioxidants in this beverage, you can lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other neuro degenerative disorders.


Side Effects of Cabbage Juice

There are very few side effects to drinking cabbage juice, although it is important to note that some people experience an increase in gas and bloating, while others report an increase in gut inflammation. Finally, when consumed in excess, the level of iodine could potentially disrupt thyroid function, but only when the juice was consumed in very large amounts. Most of these side effects can be readily avoided if you practice moderation.

Flatulence and Bloating

Some of the active ingredients in cabbage juice, namely sulfuric compounds, may interact poorly with the bacteria in your gut, resulting in an increase in gas. This can lead to bloating and discomfort, but rarely lasts very long. Try a smaller amount of cabbage juice if you experience this side effect.


Irritable Bowel Syndrome

On a similar note, people with IBS have reported that drinking more than the recommended amount of cabbage juice results in a worsening of symptoms, including diarrhea, discomfort and inflammation of the gut.


Thyroid Function

If you are drinking a significant amount of cabbage juice, perhaps to eliminate a stomach ulcer, there is a chance that you could affect your thyroid gland. While iodine is essential for the production of hormones and the regulation of the thyroid, too much can be dangerous. If you have hyper, speak with your doctor before making this juice a regular part of your diet.