Fighting Cancer and Losing Weight With a Cabbage

Cabbage is a star vegetable. Aside from helping people in Cabbage Soup Diet (a fast weight- loss program), it is also known to fight the battle against cancer.

The Big C

Cancer is also known as the Big C. It is considered as one of the causes of mortality around the world. The chances are very high and nobody is spared from its deadly grip.

You can lower your risk of getting cancer if you live a healthy lifestyle. Apart from exercising and having a positive attitude, part of being healthy is including green, leafy vegetables in your daily diet.

Experts reveal that cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli can really help to prevent cancer. Truly, this preventive method is cheaper and more convenient compared to the expenses and pain you will experience if cancer invades your body.

Cabbage is a Cancer-Fighter

According to Cancer Research Conference (Britain), cabbage contains Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) which is a powerful cancer fighter if used together with chemotherapy. The study involved feeding the tumor cells about 300-400 mg of I3C. The result is that the cancer cells surrendered and were easily killed by chemotherapy.

Also, they have seen effects on estrogen metabolism - these became potent in fighting against prostate and breast cancer cells. Because of this, the researchers are now studying if I3C can be used to intervene with conventional cancers.

In Netherlands, a study also revealed that the subjects who consumed cruciferous vegetables (like cabbage) lowered their chance of having colorectal cancer by 49%. Another study in Singapore found that inclusion of these vegetables in the daily diet will lower the risk potential of having lung cancer in smokers by 60%

In a cabbage, there are phytochemicals called glucosinolates who are believed to be the ones responsible for its cancer fighting ability. The benefits of cabbage consumption are known to be more prominent in smokers, men, and individuals who are more than 60 years old.

Lose Weight by Eating Cabbages

A lot of people have tried to lose weight. More often than not, their efforts turn out to be unsuccessful. A Manhattan expert in diet, Dr. Howard Shapiro, said that overweight people generally want to have a quick fix or a magic bullet. He added further that these people will eat a cabbage soup for one week if they believe that it will work.

Actually, that is what a Cabbage Soup Diet will do. They will give people the belief that they could lose weight - and fast. It is a program designed for only 7 days with a goal of at least 10 pounds weight loss during that period.

It allows you to consume unlimited cabbage soup and water. However, there are other foods that can be permitted, mostly fruits and vegetables.

There is a running myth that this diet has originated in well-known hospitals, but these hospitals have already denied this association. However, even if Cabbage Soup Diet is not entirely suitable for a long-term weight loss, it can still be used to jumpstart your life long healthy food intake of cabbage - to help you prevent the risk of cancer.