Cabbage: Your Secret Weapon Against Cancer?
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Sometimes, we get depressed because it seems like everything under the sun is a cancer risk. Heck, the sun itself is a major cancer risk! But we can’t live as complete hermits, so we’re always looking for ways to reduce cancer risks without making major lifestyle changes. And as it turns out, you can reduce those risks just by making sure your fridge has plenty of cabbage.
Yes, you read that right. Cabbage isn’t everyone’s favorite food…in fact, most people never change their childhood opinion that this veggie is bland and flavorless. But the good news is that there are plenty of tasty ways to prepare cabbage, and regularly consuming it can reduce your risk of getting cancer.
How does that actually work, though? Keep reading to find out!
Cabbage can help fight cancer
If you’re cynical, you’re probably wondering what the catch is regarding cabbage helping people fight cancer. After all, there are many kinds of cancers out there, and many things that “help” reduce your risks barely move the needle. So, that brings us to the big question: how effective is cabbage when it comes to protecting you from cancer?
The best data we have on the matter comes from a 2012 article in the Annals of Oncology. A study reported in that article found that eating cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables could “significantly reduce” the risk of cancer developing in the breast, colorectum, esophagus, kidney, and oral cavity. And you don’t have to eat much: in fact, you can get these benefits from eating just one serving of cabbage per week!
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The power of antioxidants
Knowing that something works isn’t the same as knowing how something works. So, what is in cabbage that makes it so surprisingly effective at fighting against cancer? It turns out that this VIP veggie has several secret ingredients to help keep you healthy, starting with the fact that it is chock-full of antioxidants.
Some of the antioxidants come from the indoles in cabbage (more on the indoles soon). Antioxidants can prevent tumors and also protect your body’s cells from damage. Part of why this works is that the antioxidants in cabbage are able to fight the free radicals that cause cancer in your body, all while reducing the oxidative stress inside of you.
Basically, any food full of antioxidants can help you fight cancer. But cabbage has some other secret ingredients that make it particularly effective.
It’s all about the isothiocyanates
It’s not an easy word to pronounce, but you should know that cabbage has isothiocyanates inside it. One of them is called PEITC, and it helps protect your lungs from smoke damage. Another isothiocyanate, sulforaphane, helps your body shrink tumors and prevent the spread of cancer cells.
These isothiocyanates do most of their heavy lifting by activating enzymes in your body. As an added bonus, sulforaphane actually blocks some key enzymes that may turn on any cancer genes in your body. Thanks to isothiocyanates, one serving of cabbage a week can help reduce your odds of getting cancer and, should you become sick, will help you fight off things like tumors!
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The role of indoles
In addition to antioxidants and isothiocyanates, cabbage has one last secret weapon in the fight against cancer, especially for women. The indoles inside cabbage help the body process estrogen in the healthiest possible way. That may not seem like a big deal, but keep in mind that breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer. Indoles can help ward off this and other forms of hormone-related cancer.
Obviously, breast cancer is more common in women. Because of this, men might not think that the indoles in cabbage are a big deal. But keep in mind that these indoles are a major source of antioxidants, which are helpful in fighting off both breast and prostate cancer. Because of this, eating more cabbage is a great way of protecting men and women alike!
Tasty ways to prepare and eat cabbage
Now, we know what you’re about to say: no matter how much cabbage benefits your health, it tastes pretty bad on its own. And nobody wants to eat food that tastes like medicine. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered with a few quick and easy ways to make cabbage taste delicious.
If you want cabbage to be your main dish, you can’t go wrong with cabbage soup. It’s a great way to use any broth you have around the house, and the result is a dish with a warm, earthy flavor. And as with any soup, you can customize it to your exact tastes.
You can also juice cabbage for a quick and refreshing breakfast drink. Or you can ferment the cabbage (which is great for gut health) to go with your sauerkraut or kimchi. Finally, try throwing it into some salad or stir-fry as a tasty, healthy way of mixing things up!