With the cooler temperature and cold wind, a nice bowl of homemade soup is always welcome. This is a classic Cabbage Soup. It is a very filling recipe that will feed lots of people, with minimal cost. It is a great way to stretch a pound of ground meat, it can be beef, moose, or ground chicken. It is filled with lots of vegetables and all their benefits.
Both cabbage and onions have major health benefits. Research has shown that compounds in cabbage are converted to isothiocyanates that provide protection in our bodies from breast, bladder, prostate, and colon cancer. A University of Otago study in New Zealand found that the isothiocyanates in cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower can even cause cancer cells to destruct. A study in Poland found that women which consumed 4 servings a week of cabbage had significantly lower breast cancer rates than women who consumed only one serving a week. Regularly eating raw or lightly steamed cabbage helps lower cholesterol. Cabbage is rich in antioxidants and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties in our bodies. Cabbage juice aids in the healing of stomach ulcers and improves digestive health. While we don’t usually think of cabbage as a source of vitamin C, it is interesting to note that 1 cup of cabbage provides 50 % of the daily recommended value of vitamin C and 91% of DRV of vitamin K. Amazingly cabbage also has omega 3 in the form of alpha linolenic acid. Cabbage scores low on the glycemic index, is low in carbohydrate, and is a good choice to prevent blood sugar spikes. Cabbage has only 33 calories per cup, making it a perfect diet food that is packed with healthy vitamins. Red cabbage is a nutrient powerhouse with 6 to 8 times more antioxidant abilities than green cabbage. Onions are a natural source of querctin and chromium, which both assist in blood sugar control. Onions like garlic contain sulfur compounds that work to detox our bodies by binding to heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium and then escorting them out of the body.
Tomatoes contain many important vitamins and antioxidants including lots of lycopene, vitamin C and vitamin A. Lycopene is what gives the tomato its red color. Lycopene helps prevent prostate, lung, and stomach cancer. The lycopene in tomatoes retains its potency and benefits, even when cooked.
Cabbage Soup
2 cups of water or 2 tablespoons olive
oil, or bacon fat
1 – 2 pounds beef hamburger
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
2 1/2 cups carrots (cut into coins)
4 cloves of chopped garlic
1 cup chopped celery
1 can tomatoes (28 ounce)
3 1/2 cups water
5 cups chopped cabbage
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon dill weed
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
Cook the hamburger in water or oil. Add the onions and continue to cook. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook until the carrots are cooked. Taste and add any additional salt or pepper if desired.