The multi-layered veggie parcel and powerhouse of vitamins and minerals, cabbage is very well known for its properties in Ayurveda. Its high content of Vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, E, C, K, calcium, iron ,iodine, potassium, sulphur, phosphorus and foliate makes it a superhero among the category of leafy vegetables.Belonging to the Brassica family, it is a cruciferous vegetable with cousins like bok choy, broccoli, Brussel sprouts and garden cress among others. It can be consumed by various means, be it boiled, cooked, steamed, sautéed, or even juiced. It has numerous medicinal properties which could be credited as God’s gift to mankind.Coming to cabbage juice, ‘the bitter the better’ phrase is really apt for this beneficial vegetable, which is not only good for health, but works wonders for the skin and hair as well. No matter how much your skin is damaged or how many bad hair days you are facing, you can totally depend on cabbage juice for its healing properties.
It helps in making our immune system strong, has a good amount of potassium which reduces blood pressure, delays ageing and makes hair stronger, reducing hair fall.
Benefits of Cabbage Juice
1. Powerhouse of Vitamins and Minerals
“Being a green vegetable, cabbage juice is high in mineral content. As such it helps in making the skin stronger, and its dose of Vitamin C boosts immunity,” says Dr. Shalini Manglani, a Bangalore-based Nutritionist.
2. Fights Free Radicals
Cabbage juice is an excellent source of vitamin K and C, which help in fighting free radicals. Free radicals are the main cause of diseases such as cancer and heart issues. These vitamins are also essential to keep hair follicles healthy and circulate scalp oil,” says Dr. Komal, Nutritionist at SCI International Hospital.
3. Detoxifies the Skin
“Both purple and green cabbage are rich in silicon and sulphur, the beauty minerals. Sulphur is particularly present in every cell as it is responsible for pulling in nutrition and removing waste from your cells. This is what is called osmosis. For clear skin, you need to have good osmosis,” says Shilpa Arora, a leading Nutritionist based in New Delhi.According to Dr Shalini, cabbage juice helps in flushing out toxins from the body. Thus it helps in detoxifying, making dull skin appearance go away, giving you a glowing look.
4. Aids in Weight Loss
If you are on a weight loss schedule, then cabbage juice could be your health fix when you need to rejuvenate. Not only will it help you feel refreshed but keep a tab on problems related to obesity. Dr. Komal says, “Cabbage juice can be very effective in helping you reduce kilos if you drink it on a daily basis. It helps in purifying the upper section of the intestines, which makes the elimination of waste material from the body easy, thus helping with digestion.”
5. Builds Immunity
“Body immunity gets better with cabbage juice and it helps in fighting against harmful pathogens,” says Dr Shalini.
6. Aids Liver Function
Cabbage juice contains ‘Indole-3 carbonile’ antioxidant which plays a role in detoxifying your liver. The liver plays a crucial role in various metabolic functions of the body – protein synthesis, hormone production, glycogen storage regulation, etc. “Cabbage juice helps in improving the bowel movement as well and as such keeps the lever in a good condition,” adds Dr Komal.
7. Prevents Risks of Cancer
Sulforaphane, found in cabbage, helps in preventing cells from carcinogens. Cabbage juice contains isocyanate, which helps in preventing the risks of breast cancer, lung, stomach, prostate and colon cancer.
According to a study done by Georgetown University Medical Center, a compound called DIM derived from cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli may protect against harmful effects of radiation during cancer therapy. DIM has been studied as a cancer prevention agent for years, but this study gave indication that DIM can also act as a radiation protector.
How to Make Cabbage Juice
It’s very simple to make fresh cabbage juice at home. Take a firm cabbage and peel the leaves gently. Wash well with cold water and then pat dry.
If there are any brown spots, cut out the damaged area. Place the leaves in a blender and blend well. Strain and drink up. You can also add mint leaves, honey and lemon to play around with the flavour.
