Cabbage Juice Benefits: Are There Any Reasons To Start Drinking This Juice?

Cabbage juice finds itself at the top of the list when it comes to healthy juices. It emerges as the champion amongst other juices due to its high nutrient profile and low sugar content. This drinkable treat is a fun and tasty way to eat your vegetables and pack your body with many healthy nutrients. These nutrients have been linked to numerous health benefits. But before we look at these benefits, we suggest you  do not go on a liquid diet without talking with a professional. That said, let us look at cabbage juice benefits now.

What Is Cabbage Juice?

As the name implies, it refers to juice obtained after juicing cabbage leaves. Cabbage is one of the most common vegetables in most households. However, despite its popularity in most kitchens, few people know much about it. 

First, cabbage is classified as a cruciferous vegetable and other vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and kale (7). It is a highly versatile vegetable, meaning you can have it raw in coleslaw, juiced, steamed, or when fermented.

Again, this cruciferous vegetable comes in different colors. It could be red, green, or purple, and the leaves may be smooth or crinkled (7). So, if you want to make cabbage juice, you are free to choose a cabbage of any color or texture.

How To Make Cabbage Juice

You can make yourself a glass of cabbage juice at any time and not necessarily when you are pressed for time. Luckily, the process is very straightforward, requires few ingredients, and takes a fraction of your time. Take a look:

Ingredients:

• Chopping board
• Knife
• Juicer or blender
• Cabbage
• Glass or bottle for storing the juice

Preparation:

The preparation method may vary depending on whether you use a juicer or blender. If you have a blender, then the process to follow is as follows:

1. Rinse and chop your cabbage.
2. Put the chopped cabbage in your blender and add half a cup of water (you may require more than this depending on your cabbage serving).
3. Blend at low speed for about two minutes and then shift to high speed for a few seconds (You may continue to blend longer until you get the desired consistency or until there are no small cabbage pieces in your juice).
4. Sieve the puree and then put it in the jar before storing it in a fridge.
5. Serve yourself a glass after a while and enjoy.

If you have a juicer, then you will be required to do the following:

1. Start by rinsing the cabbage and tearing its leaves apart until they are small enough to fit in the juicer.
2. Turn the juicer on at a low speed and start juicing until you get enough juice.
3. Let it chill in a fridge for an hour before enjoying a glass or two.

You will notice that plain cabbage juice has a strong taste, which some people consider as bitter. Let your nutritionist know about this before adding extra ingredients to try and make the drink palatable.

Read More: Benefits Of Red Cabbage: Surprising Reasons You Should Add This Vegetable To Your Diet

Cabbage Juice Nutrition Facts

The running theory and perhaps the number one reason why most people drink this juice is the belief that it is loaded with nutrients. Several studies have revealed that the juice is indeed loaded with nutrients, which have been linked to several health benefits (7).

But before we look at these benefits, let us analyze the cabbage juice calories and nutrient content. It is important to note that the amount of these nutrients varies with the servings. The more the servings, the higher the count of the calories and other nutrients.

According to WebMD, a half a cup serving of cabbage juice gives you the following nutrients (1):

• Calories- 22
• Fat- 0 g
• Cholesterol- 0 g
• Carbohydrates- 5 g

Note that the cabbage juice calories vary depending on your servings. The more the servings, the more the calories. Similarly, it is worth noting that in addition to these nutrients, cabbage juice also provides you with decent amounts of other nutrients. 

For example, one serving of the juice provides you with half the amount of vitamin C your body needs in a day (1). This means that consuming a glass of this juice can help you get enough nutrients your body requires to function well. Some of the other cabbage juice nutrients you can obtain are (1):

• Vitamins A and C
• Iron
• Calcium

Health Benefits Of Cabbage Juice

Cabbage juice has a long line of health benefits because it is loaded with healthful nutrients and compounds. Some of these benefits include:

Increased Ability To Fight Inflammation

Inflammation is a body process mainly characterized by swelling, pain, hotness sensations and redness in one area or the entire body. In addition, the pain may limit the range of motion in that specific area, signaling a fatal condition like arthritis.

Drinking cabbage juice can help you fight inflammation and alleviate this pain, thanks to its high glucoraphanin levels. What happens is that your body converts glucoraphanin to sulforaphane, which is helpful for fighting inflammation (1). These compounds may also speed up healing and reduce your risk of several diseases (1).

Helps With Ulcers

Ulcers are painful sores on the lining of your stomach or small intestine. Research shows that drinking cabbage juice can help heal ulcers. To determine the effectiveness of the juice in healing ulcers, researchers conducted a study among thirteen patients with peptic ulcers (6).

They were treated with fresh cabbage juice for several days, and their treatment plan was recorded. As a result, researchers discovered rapid healing of peptic ulcers in the thirteen patients whose treatment plan included drinking fresh cabbage juice (6).

They believed that the juice contains an anti-peptic ulcer factor known as vitamin U that prevented the development of histamine-induced peptic ulcers in guinea pigs (6). The study concluded that the anti-peptic ulcer dietary factor could help reduce the genesis of ulcers in human beings, but the study does not necessarily prove this (6). It was also done a very long time ago, published in 1949.

Cancer Prevention

One of the significant reasons people are drawn into drinking this juice is that they believe it helps prevent cancer. Research has shown that cabbage contains anti-cancer properties that have the potential to reduce cancer risk (3).

Additionally, scientists have revealed that cabbage also contains antioxidants that help fight free radicals, which can lead to cancerous cells (3). These properties remain even after juicing this vegetable.

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May Promote Weight Loss

Drinking cabbage juice can also help you shed pounds because it has low calories (1). The low-calorie count makes this healthy fix an excellent addition to a weight loss diet plan as it helps you maintain a calorie deficit. 

Additionally, it can help you lose weight by easing digestion, which quickens the elimination of waste from your intestines. Please note, this drink can lead to a calorie surplus if you are not careful.

 Knowing this, talk to your nutritionist to determine a safe serving of cabbage juice and the rest of your meals for weight loss. 

Rich In Antioxidants

Drinking cabbage juice also provides you with helpful substances known as antioxidants. They are best known for preventing or slowing down cell damage caused by free radicals (5). These free radicals can cause oxidative stress which contributes to several health conditions, including cancer and inflammation.

Cabbage is rich in vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant (7). Similarly, varieties like red cabbage contain an antioxidant known as anthocyanin. This means that red cabbage juice benefits you with its powerful antioxidant properties.

The benefit from these antioxidants is that they are tied to a string of health benefits, some of which include (5):

• Reduced Disease Risk. Antioxidants may reduce the risk of several diseases caused by oxidative stress and damage from free radicals. These include cancer, vision loss, atherosclerosis, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases (5).
• Reduced Inflammation. As mentioned earlier, vitamin C is classified as an antioxidant, and it helps combat inflammation.
• Better Eye Health. Besides preventing vision loss, research also shows that antioxidants can fight age-related eye disease (5). This disease is mainly common among seniors because the eye’s macula is damaged as we age. This is one contributor to vision loss. 

Promotes Vegetable Consumption

Cabbage juice is also a convenient way of eating cabbage, especially among people who hate eating vegetables. The difference in volume and form makes it easier for consumption than when eaten raw or cooked.

Ultimately, you will still get nutrients and benefit from them. However, you must talk to your doctor before adding or switching to a liquid diet. 

Supports Immunity

The main reason why this drink is believed to support your immune system is because of its high antioxidants profile. Antioxidants prevent several diseases, enhancing your immune system functioning (5). Similarly, vitamins C and A, both in cabbage juice, play important roles in the health and functioning of immune cells.

Read More: Cabbage Soup Diet For 2 Weeks: Is This A Safe Way To Lose Weight?

Cabbage Juice Side Effects

Research also shows that drinking cabbage juice has some drawbacks despite the many health benefits. They include (1):

• Interaction With Several Diseases

Unfortunately, cabbage juice is not ideal for every person. It interferes with normal thyroid functioning, which is severe among individuals with a thyroid condition or thyroid cancer. This is because it contains substances known as goitrogens, which are present whenever you eat raw cabbage. 

These substances interfere with thyroid function, further increasing the severity of thyroid conditions. Knowing this, it would be best to avoid this juice if you have such a condition. Talk to your doctor about it if you have concerns.

• Interactions With Specific Medications

Cabbage juice may also not be the drink for you if you are on medications that interact with it. The juice is known to react with specific medications to its high content of vitamin K. The vitamin does not respond well with medications such as blood thinners like warfarin. 

Ideally, blood thinners are meant to help prevent blood clots. However, their effectiveness is reduced by this vitamin, so it might be best to avoid this juice if you are taking a blood thinner. But again, it is best to consult with your doctor if you are on any medication and are interested in adding this juice to your diet.

• Lacks Fiber

Cabbage is one of the cruciferous vegetables known for its high fiber content. Fiber is loved for many reasons. First and foremost, it increases satiety, making you feel full for an extended duration. This can help with weight management as it prevents overeating (4).

Similarly, fiber helps with promoting good digestion and preventing constipation (4). It also reduces your cholesterol levels and reduces your risk of conditions such as high blood pressure associated with abnormally high cholesterol levels (4).

These are some solid reasons why most people eat cabbage. Unfortunately juicing cabbage plus other vegetables removes a percentage of the fiber. As a result, you miss out on the benefits of fiber, including those listed above. 

• May Cause Abdominal Discomfort In Some Individuals

Cabbage juice may not be for you if you experience gut discomfort after drinking it. Also, remember that cabbage produces gas due to sulfuric compounds. The result is excess gas and bloating in some people (2).

So, you may consider drinking a small amount or avoiding the juice entirely. Similarly, cabbage also contains substances known as fructans, which are sometimes hard to digest for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (2).To avoid such discomfort, you can avoid the juice. Again, cabbage juice may not be ideal if you are fructan intolerant. In this case, you are advised to avoid this drink.

It is worth noting that you need to talk to your doctor if you experience any of the discussed or more side effects. Also, if you are drinking a significant amount and happen to experience other symptoms, be sure to also talk to your doctor. There is a chance that this juice may be reacting negatively in your body.

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Can I Drink Cabbage Juice Every Day?

No research is yet to find any side effects or potential harm of drinking this juice daily. So, it is safe to say that you can enjoy drinking a glass or two of this juice every day.  

Please note that you should drink fermented cabbage juice in moderation, especially if you are new to fermented drinks and foods. Consult with your doctor on how often you should drink fermented cabbage juice if you are interested in it.

The Bottom Line

As the name implies, cabbage juice refers to juice obtained after juicing cabbage. Cabbage juice might benefit your body in several ways, including supporting your immune system, reducing cancer risk, fighting inflammation, and helping with ulcers. 

This drink has drawbacks, ranging from lack of fiber, possible abdominal discomfort, and interactions with several medications and diseases. Knowing this, consult with your doctor before adding this drink to your diet or before going on a liquid diet.