Fit Fem’rs, it’s fantastic fun food Friday and today we’ll highlight a splendid green leafy vegetable: cabbage. Do you remember the cabbage patch kids….ugh not to date myself but I grew up on the cabbage patch kids…I digress…So few appreciate this awesome food but you’re missing out if you don’t. It deserves recognition among it leafy veggie colleagues broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower with its powerful cancer fighting properties. Losing weight and prevent cancer, can’t go wrong here!

Putting things into perspective. In addition to the character of fighting cancer, cabbage is plentiful of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, potassium, fiber, and other nutrients. So what’s the pay off for Fit Fem’rs looking to lose weight and shed fat? Well, its soooo low in calories – about 16 calories per half a cup.

There are two types of cabbages: (1) savoy and (2) bok choy. Both are antioxidants that help fight cancer and heart disease – full of beta-carotene. Bok choy, specifically has a lot of calcium which as we know helps prevent osteoporosis (yes ladies, something to consider as we get older) and maintaining balanced levels of blood pressure. Hypertensive candidates should really consider including cabbage in their diets. Steaming cabbages is great for lowering cholesterol levels in the body. The bile acids in the digestive tract can bind better with fibers of cabbages. Eating raw cabbages will also have the effects in the lowering of the levels of cholesterol in your body. Glucosinolates contents in the different verities of cabbages are not in the same level so it is a recommendable idea to include cabbages in your diet a few times a week.

Fit Fem’s, read closely to what I’m about to write to you. Cabbage also contains phytochemicals called indoles. Indoles have the ability to change an estrogen hormone called estradiol into a safer form of estrogen which helps fights specifically breast cancer. Let’s save our boobies with cabbage, whattya say?

This leafy vegetable is a versatile one. Because there are literally hundreds of cabbage types, you can assume there are several ways in which cabbages are included in recipes. Cabbages can be part of main dishes or can be made into salads or soups. Some types of fishes and meat can be matched with cabbages in certain cooking recipes. The cabbage soup is a vital food preparation in a quick weight reduction dietary plan. Yes, there’s even a diet named after the vegetable…you guessed, the cabbage soup diet!

Of course anything in excess isn’t healthy. Cabbages are said to cause goiter to individuals who are consuming excessive quantities of the vegetable. And yet, there are opposing recent studies that are showing cabbages are not interfering with functions of the thyroid glands. There is an opinion stating in the contrary of an age-old belief that cabbages are the cause of thyroid diseases especially to women. Do your research, please!

Overall, cabbages are every dieter’s favorite veggie simply because of its low calorie content. There are a number of important nutrients that the vegetable can provide to a person, especially to a woman who is aiming to keep a healthy and beautiful body. Allow your body to obtain all the healthy "stuff" your body needs