| The benefits of red beets
and red cabbage In particular, indole-3-carbinole
(I3C) is thought to play a role in reducing the risk
of breast cancer, and one small study
showed a remarkable 50% reduction in the incidence of
breast cancer. These compounds, found abundantly in
red cabbage and red beets, are thought to play a role
in how estrogen is produced and utilized in the body,
and this is thought to play a role in reducing the incidence
of breast cancer in those who consume these foods.
In addition to the prevention of breast cancer, red
cabbage and red beets are thought to play an important
role in the prevention of lung cancer, stomach cancer
and colon cancer. In addition, red cabbage and red beets
are known to be rich sources of vitamin C, an antioxidant
which plays a vital role in reducing the presence of
free radicals in the body.
In addition, all types of cabbages and related vegetables,
including broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts
and bok choy, are rich sources of calcium. In addition
to calcium, however, red cabbage and red beets are also
rich sources of flavonoids. It is these flavonoids which
are responsible for the rich purple coloring of both
red cabbage and red beets, and it is these flavonoids
which give both red cabbage and red beets their strong
antioxidant health benefits. As a matter of fact, red
cabbage and red beets are among the richest sources
of flavonoids in the vegetable world.
Other health benefits
In addition to their possible role as cancer fighters,
red cabbage and red beets both are being studied for
their possible role in the treatment of peptic ulcers.
For many years the juice of the red cabbage has been
used as a very effective way to treat peptic ulcers.
It is thought that the high concentration of the amino
acid known as glutamine is responsible for the ability
of red cabbage and red beets to treat this common stomach
condition. Glutamine is used to provide nutrients to
the cells that line the small intestine and the stomach,
and this fact may be responsible for the effectiveness
of cabbage juice at treating ulcer conditions.
When shopping for red cabbage, it is a good idea to
choose those heads with the richest, reddest leaves,
since the compounds that give red cabbage is rich flavor
also provide its nutritional benefits. Likewise, those
red beets with the richest and heartiest color are thought
to provide the greatest nutritional value.
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