Cabbage is a nutritional king. A member of the cancer-fighting cruciferous family, it's loaded with protective compounds and useful nutrients. If you only eat it as mayo-drenched coleslaw at the family picnic, you're missing out on a bonanza of healing benefits.

While all cabbages are good for you, some are even better.
Frequently used in stir-fries and other Asian dishes, bok choy, or Chinese cabbage, is higher in nutrients than regular cabbage. One cup of chopped bok choy contains almost the entire RDA for the antioxidant beta-carotene; it's also high in vitamin C and potassium, all of which are crucial to maintaining normal blood pressure and heart health.

Savoy cabbage is another standout; it, too, is high in disease-fighting beta-carotene, as well as in vitamin C.

Cancer Fighters
Like other cruciferous vegetables, cabbage contains indoles, phytonutrients that seem to deactivate powerful estrogens that stimulate the growth of tumors, particularly in the breast. Another compound in bok choy, called brassinin, has also been linked to preventing breast tumors.

Studies have shown that a third compound in cabbage, called sulforaphane, is effective against both breast and colon cancers. Sulforaphane appears to increase production of enzymes that prevent tumors. It's been shown to reduce occurrence of breast tumors in laboratory animals by more than 40 percent. Sulforaphane also stimulates production of an enzyme called glutathione, which works to remove toxins from the colon, and eliminate them from the body before they can damage cells.

Savoy cabbage is particularly potent against cancer because it contains indoles, sulforaphane, and at least four other phytonutrients that help eliminate toxins.

Never boil the bok choy or other cabbages--you'll lose half the nutrients (and all the flavor) that way. Eating it raw is best; try it in place of some of you regular salad greens, or make a low-fat coleslaw with vinaigrette.

Many people think that if certain foods are good, a lot is better.
This is not always the case, and high doses of certain food are actually toxic.

Read about the healthy food, research the vitamins and minerals and check with your health care provider if you are unsure about how much to eat and how much may be too much.