Cabbage: 4 reasons to eat more, 4 ways to enjoy more

One of my favorite places to be is my local winter Farmer’s Market.

In addition to having beautiful farm fresh produce, they also have live music. It’s a real happening there on Saturday mornings.

One thing I can always count on being available at the winter farmer’s market, is cabbage.

Cabbage is never given the same superfood status as chia seeds or hemp seeds, but I think of it as a super powerful food in it’s own right.

Below you’ll find 4 reasons why cabbage is a superstar and 4 delicious and healthy ways to enjoy it

I want you to eat more cabbage…so let’s first start with:

WHY eat more:

Cabbage is:

• a fiber factory!. Fiber helps with digestion, weight loss and blood sugar stabilization.

• a cruciferous vegetable which means it’s a great cancer fighting food. (If you have hypothyroidism, however, you’ll want to eat it cooked and in moderation, due to it’s impact on iodine levels)

• packed with vitamins and minerals like sulfur (good for skin and hair), Vitamin C (immune building and detoxifying), Potassium (keeps blood pressure low), and more!

• a great source of probiotics – when fermented (more about that below).

And now HOW to enjoy more:

1. Use big cabbage leaves as wraps for a roll-up.

A big raw cabbage leaf makes a great wrap for hummus + sliced red peppers, or a big chunk of avocado, tomatoes and sprouts.

Wrap up your favorite filling with a large cabbage leaf, and you’ve got a healthy roll-up that’s perfect to take on the road.

2. Add thinly sliced Napa cabbage to your homemade soup.

Napa cabbage is also known as Chinese cabbage it has a more delicate texture and taste and sort of melts into soup to create a lovely thick base to any soup.

 

3. Saute thin long slices of hard-round green cabbage with olive oil and sea salt to create a healthy pasta alternative. Toss with a little pesto for a real treat!

 

 

4. Reach for fermented cabbage: Sauerkraut or kimchi.

High quality, naturally fermented cabbage is deeply healing to your gut.

It’s loaded with probiotics, that’s the good gut bacteria that your body needs for healthy digestion, a strong immune system and also – as we’re learning from new research – good brain chemistry!

Choose your sauerkraut by looking for the words “Naturally fermented” or “Raw.” High quality probiotic-rich sauerkraut should be found in the refrigerated section of your grocery store (it’ll be that fresh). It should also not contain vinegar or sugar.

Look for a local brand if possible. My current favorite is the delicious Hosta Hill Krauts, which I pick up at the farmer’s market. It’s made in Western Massachussetts. Real Pickles Brand is another high quality sauerkraut from the Massachussetts area.

I hope today’s email has inspired you to put cabbage on your grocery list and on your table!

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Nina Manolson, MA, CHC, certified Health Coach and Psychology of Eating Coach believes that every women deserves to feel good in their own body. She helps women create a healthy and positive relationship with their food and body so they can love their body and life! She’s the founder of NinaManolson.com and HealthyYummyKids.com.

She helps busy women look and feel their best, and helps them feed their kids well in a world that doesn’t.

She’s the author of “Feed Your Kids Well In A World That Doesn’t: an everyday guide to make healthy food happen in your home and beyond”. She’s also the recipient of the prestigious Health Leadership Award from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

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