Cabbage juice: Have you tried it yet?

Cabbage belongs to the Brassica plant family, this versatile vegetable can be eaten raw, steamed, fermented, and even juiced. So what is the effect of cabbage juice and should cabbage juice be used regularly in the daily diet?

1. Benefits of Drinking Cabbage Juice

Cabbage vegetable juice contains many nutrients, such as vitamins C, K. Cabbage juice drinking water can lose weight, improve gut health, reduce inflammation, balance hormones, and detoxify the body. Here are some benefits that cabbage juice gives us.

1.1 Contains many antioxidants

Cabbage juice is rich in antioxidants, which are substances that reduce cell damage caused by free radicals. The accumulation of free radicals in the body can lead to inflammatory conditions and disease.

This drink is also high in vitamin C, a nutrient that plays an important role in supporting immune health and is a powerful antioxidant. Red cabbage is high in anthocyanins, the plant pigments that give red cabbage its burgundy color and it has strong antioxidant properties, anthocyanins have also been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Some of the antioxidants found in cabbage juice may also have anti-cancer properties. One test-tube study found that cabbage juice was able to kill human breast cancer cells due to the concentration of an antioxidant called indol in the juice.

1.2 May help fight inflammation

While short-term inflammation is a positive response to acute stress, long-term inflammation can affect health. Therefore, it is important to limit prolonged inflammation as much as possible. Cabbage contains many anti-inflammatory compounds, these include sulforaphane, a sulfur compound found in many Brassica vegetables, and kaempferol, a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects. In a study of a group of rats with contact dermatitis, topical application of cabbage extract ointment significantly reduced inflammation.

1.3. Beneficial for gut health

Cabbage juice has been used as a traditional remedy for stomach ulcers. Although current research in humans is limited, recent animal studies have also shown that cabbage juice may improve stomach ulcers.

Fermented versions of cabbage juice may also benefit gut health. The juice from sauerkraut, a type of fermented cabbage, is high in lactic acid bacteria, which are good bacteria for the gut.

1.4 Other benefits of cabbage juice

Other potential health benefits of drinking cabbage juice include:

Potential cancer-fighting effects: In fact, consuming 5 or more servings of cruciferous vegetables weekly can reduce the risk of lymphoma in women by 33%.
Good for heart health: In one study, people who consumed juice containing cabbage had lower cholesterol levels than the control group. Other studies have also linked eating cruciferous vegetables to a reduced risk of heart disease.
Supports the absorption of certain nutrients: Cabbage contains beta carotene, a precursor to vitamin A. Studies show that drinking juice helps absorb beta carotene better than eating cabbage.
Can be more convenient than raw cabbage: Consuming more cabbage in juice form is easier than eating raw and easy to use on the go because it is so simple to carry.

2. Potential side effects of cabbage juice

While juicing cabbage juice may offer some health benefits, we also need to consider some of its potential downsides.

2.1. Consuming high amounts of cabbage juice may affect the thyroid gland

Substances called goitrogens in cabbage can inhibit the transport of iodine to the thyroid gland, which is a necessary process for the normal function of the thyroid gland.

Several studies have shown a correlation between the consumption of cruciferous vegetables and the risk of thyroid cancer. Furthermore, goitrogens are found in higher amounts in raw cabbage, so people with thyroid conditions such as hypothyroidism should consider this before using it.

2.2 May interact with drugs

Certain nutrients in cabbage juice have been shown to interact with certain medications. The vitamin K in cabbage may affect the ability of blood thinners such as warfarin to prevent blood clotting. If you are taking blood thinners then it is best to avoid more

Vegetable juices remove a lot of fiber. Fiber promotes satiety, maintains your gut health, helps stabilize blood sugar, and may lower cholesterol. Largely due to their high fiber content, cruciferous vegetables like cabbage have been recognized for their ability to positively alter gut bacteria. However, by juicing the cabbage instead of eating it raw, the fiber content was greatly reduced.

Cabbage juice can cause abdominal discomfort in some people. Some people may experience intestinal discomfort when drinking cabbage juice. Cabbage is a rich source of fructans, a type of carb that people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often find difficult to digest. Even when eating less cabbage, people with IBS may experience symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

3. Should you drink cabbage juice?

Cabbage juice, like any other fruit juice, may offer several health benefits. Drinking fruit juices is a great way to get large amounts of nutrients and antioxidants in an easy-to-consume form.

However, people with irritable bowel syndrome and those taking certain medications should check with their doctor before incorporating cabbage juice into their diet. Since cabbage juice often has a strong taste, you can add it with other juices, such as apple or carrot, to reduce the bitterness and make it more palatable.

Adding cabbage juice to your daily diet can provide a dose of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gut health-promoting compounds and may benefit health in several ways. However, we should not worry if cabbage juice is not suitable for the body, as you can get the same benefits by including cabbage in your diet.