Mysty PfefferMy clients are always looking for a quick jump start to get healthier! I can’t think of a better way to help them than to introduce them to this super easy anti-inflammatory cabbage soup. Yes, it’s been around a long time. My mother’s generation and your grandmother’s generation all know about the quick fix 3 day cabbage soup diet.
The tale told to me is that this soup was developed by a heart surgeon many years ago in an attempt to get his patients ready for heart surgery. I’m impressed with any surgeon who thinks of the long-term recovery of his patients and understands the vital role nutrition plays in any healing plan.
This guy was SOOO ahead of his time! He understood oxidative stress in the body plays a role in elevated blood pressure, heart failure, myocardial events, and lack of oxygen to the cells! AND he understood how cabbage works to derail all of the harm oxidative stress does to the cardiovascular system.
However, you and I are not talking about a cabbage soup diet today.
Nope! We are talking about how to take this soup to the next level and use it in our weekly eating routine to jump start our healthier lifestyle. I’m all about using the LIFE approach to get us where we want to be.
It takes a look at lifestyle (how we live, sleep/deal with stress/ and play) intake (what we eat and drink, cook with, slather on our bodies, and breath in everyday), frame of mind (how we think, react, respond, and cope), and exercise. The pillars of health that keep us going day after day. Check out the process in my coaching program here.
God has a better plan for us and it’s in His Word, the Bible, and His garden. We are spiritually an physically thriving when we surrender our will to His and enjoy His plan for our health.
Anti-Inflammatory Cabbage Soup Benefits
He knew the benefit of this soup would be many.
The main ingredient is cabbage. In one study cabbage extract protected participants from oxygen depleted cell death and protected the mitochondria of the cardiac cells! That’s huge!
In addition to vitamin C, calcium, vitamin E, and proteins, cabbage is also rich in luteolin, myricetin, quercetin, and polyphenols. All of which decrease inflammation and help the cells recover better. (1) It is also used in traditional medicine to treat ulcers, gastritis, and irritable bowel disease. As a firsthand testimony, I can say this soup is one of the best methods for cleaning out the colon I’ve ever used!
Not only is it helpful for the heart and gastrointestinal system, but there is growing evidence of its use for hepatitis, cirrhosis, and abnormal cholesterol levels. Do you see why I want this in our weekly arsenal of improving health! We can do this!
After cabbage is tomatoes. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that helps lower our risk of cancer and heart disease. Beta-carotene is also present in tomatoes. It converts to vitamin A in our bodies. Other antioxidants in tomatoes, like chlorogenic acid, which lowers blood pressure and naringenin helps reduce inflammation. I need that every single day, how about you?
Then we have our herbs: turmeric, garlic, onion, and oregano. All well-known herbs for fighting inflammation and cancer due to their antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anticancer properties.
Here is a graphic to breeak it down:
Devotion
God’s divine nature and glorious power are truly revealed in the things He created as Romans 1:20 says! You and I can tap into that power by trusting Him more with our health. He knew exactly what we would need thousands of years after creating our first parents. He also knew the battles we will face each day as the world tries to deceive us into believing what is good and what is not good.
He provides His Son, Jesus, for our eternal spiritual health and His garden to heal and restore our bodies. In God’s Word we find strength, purpose, and His loving attributes. We don’t have to settle for artificial ingredients, preservatives, and dyes in our food. The real color and real benefit are in all of the brightly colored foods we have at our fingertips!
We don’t have to struggle against the world as hard when we understand and fully embrace God’s love and His provision, spiritually and physically.
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:1-3 ESV – For I want you to know how great a – Bible Gateway
We are knit together in love! God wants us to have the knowledge of Christ because in Him we have the heart change necessary to see truth, overcome dependence on food and substances, and receive the strength of the Holy Spirit to live the abundant life God calls us to live. So, here you go! Take the plunge and try this amazing soup.
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Super Easy Anti-inflammatory Cabbage Soup Recipe
Super Easy Anti-inflammatory Cabbage Soup
Ingredients
- 1 Large Head Cabbage
- 6 Large Tomatoes (or a 24 oz jar of Salsa)
- 1 Large Onion
- 1 Clove Garlic
- 2 15 oz cans Chick Peas
- 2 Tbsp Oregano (fresh or 1 tbsp dried)
- 2 Tbsp Turmeric Root (fresh or 1 Tbsp dried)
- 1 32 oz Vegetable Broth
- 2 Cups Water
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 1 large Yellow Pepper
- 1/2 Tsp Pepper
- 1 Tsp Cayenne Pepper (optional, leave out if you don't like it)
Instructions
- Wash and Chop all vegetables and add them to a soup pot. (No worries if you don't have fresh tomatoes, just us the salsa)
- Add your chopped garlic, onion, and turmeric.
- Add the broth and water bring to a simmer and let cook until all the vegetables are tender, about 2 hours. If you have a slow cooker put it on before you go to work and leave it 8 hours on low. If you have an instapot and want it sooner, let pressure cook 30 minutes.
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy this super easy anit-inflammatory cabbage soup.
Let me know how it goes. I’m working on a challenge get the details here!
References:
Yang DK. Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) Protects against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress by Preventing Mitochondrial Dysfunction in H9c2 Cardiomyoblasts. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018 Aug 12;2018:2179021. doi: 10.1155/2018/2179021. PMID: 30158990; PMCID: PMC6109504.
