An Unlikely Vegetable Juice Can Help Prevent Heart Disease And Reduce Inflammation At The Same Time

It's no surprise that vegetables are key to your overall health. Vegetables have specific nutrients not found in animal products that help your body fight off free radicals that can often lead to diseases such as cancer. Certain veggies can even help lower your blood pressure, and their soluble fiber can reduce cholesterol. The problem? Most people don't eat enough vegetables each day. The good news is that you can still get some of those important nutrients by drinking vegetable juices.

If you like tomato juice, you could turn to V8 for the nutrients in tomatoes as well as a few other vegetables. Now that home juicers are widely available, you may want to turn to cabbage juice for health benefits, says Kat Benson, a registered dietitian at Top Nutrition Coaching, in a Health Digest interview.

"Cabbage contains phytonutrients and anti-inflammatory compounds that help reduce oxidative stress, which plays a key role in both heart health and blood sugar regulation," she said. "These compounds, along with the small amount of potassium, may also help regulate blood pressure."

Your body constantly works to defend itself against harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage cells, trigger inflammation, and disrupt their energy supply. Since heart cells are especially vulnerable to this type of damage, antioxidants are essential for protection. A 2018 study in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that cabbage extract helped heart cells survive oxidative stress by restoring antioxidant proteins. The extract also blocked harmful substances that damage cells and supported the health of the cells' energy-producing structures.

Cabbage juice may protect your body from harmful substances in the environment, according to a 2022 study in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. Exposure to lead can result in cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure and clogging of your arteries. The study found that when laboratory rats were exposed to lead, they had higher levels of oxidative stress and inflammation and lower levels of protective antioxidants. Cabbage juice lowered inflammation, boosted antioxidants, and improved cellular health.

Although kale and Brussels sprouts often get the credit as nutritional superfoods, you can't rule out cabbage. After all, cabbage is also part of the family of cruciferous vegetables in improving eye and gut health while reducing your risk of some cancers. "The fiber in cabbage, especially when eaten as part of a meal, can slow digestion and help stabilize blood sugar levels, making it beneficial for diabetes management," Benson said. "Since it's a cruciferous vegetable, it may also support insulin sensitivity, further contributing to blood sugar control."

If you don't like the taste of cabbage, juicing may be an option. Benson says you'll get the same micronutrients in cabbage juice that you'll get in cabbage leaves, especially if you drink the juice just after juicing. "A big downside is the loss of fiber, which means it's less filling and won't support digestion the same way," she said. "Juicing also concentrates certain compounds, like goitrogens, which in high amounts could negatively affect thyroid function."

Instead of juicing or eating raw cabbage, Benson recommends opting for fermented cabbage like sauerkraut or kimchi. Fermented foods are rich in probiotics, which can improve gut health and reduce bloating. These probiotics also strengthen your immune system, while the cabbage itself provides antioxidants that support your overall health. You can also try recipes like keto cabbage soup.