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Health & Fitness

The Cabbage Experience

I love cabbage–all kinds of cabbage, green, purple, red, polka-dotted (well maybe not polka-dotted).

I like my cabbage cooked, with or without other vegetables, with or without meat.  I’ll even eat it cold after it has been cooked.  But honestly, until I tried an organic savoy cabbage, I’d never experienced cabbage at its pinnacle of perfection.

What was so great about it?  Well first, I didn’t have to throw away the outer leaves–you know, the ones that look floppy and mangy, like a dirty dog’s ear?  I steamed them right along with the rest of the beautiful body.  Second, it took only about ten minutes to get the consistency I wanted–soft but not overcooked.  And then…then there was the taste.  I am not kidding when I say this was the best cabbage I’d ever had.  I didn’t have to add salt, butter or anything else.  It was pure delight–a strong cabbage flavor, almost as strong as brussels sprouts, but at the same time, sweet and substantial.  There was no bitterness at all.  It was filling.  It was heaven residing in a leafy plant.

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Now if you are not into flowery descriptions of food, or if you’re not into cabbage at all, perhaps the scientific side of your mind will appreciate the following.

Cabbage ranks right up there with broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts with a reputation for fighting cancer. It’s also a good source of vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and other nutrients. Cabbage also offers a major payoff–the fewest calories and least fat of any vegetable.

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Take a look at the nutritional chart.  If you’re into eating large portions, consider how low in calories cabbage is. In fact, it’s so low in calories, it takes the body more energy to digest it than what’s in the cabbage itself!  Quite a deal.

Nutritional Values of Fresh and Cooked Green Cabbage
Serving Size: 1/2 cup chopped

Calories 16 Fat <1 g Saturated Fat 0 g Cholesterol 0 mg Carbohydrate 4 g Protein 1 g Dietary Fiber 1.4 g Sodium 6 mg Vitamin C 15 mg

In future posts, we’ll explore some great ways to prepare cabbage that will appeal even to hardcore cabbage nay-sayers.  In the meantime, feel free to enjoy this delicious vegetable as a side dish, a snack, or even a breakfast food.  That’s how good it is.

--Katherine Gotthardt, writer for Wintergreen Organics & Naturals


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