Detox Cabbage Soup

Lately I’ve been revisiting detoxing my body, more specifically detoxing my liver. Our liver has over 500 functions and plays a major role in filtering everything our body comes into contact with. I’d say that’s a really important role! Optimizing my liver function improves the overall health of my body and how well it functions is really important to me. The more I learn about how the body functions, the more ways I’m able to support it and therefore the better my health with be as well as how I feel! Who doesn’t want to feel their absolute best? Lately I’ve been struggling with brain fog as well as sluggish digestion and my eczema has been flaring since Thanksgiving. I’m starting a protocol that will last 5-12 months and I’ll be posting about each part of the journey!

This recipe was my very first recipe that I wrote the first winter after we moved back to NC! My “why” for writing it has changed, but the detoxing effects it has have not. Back in the day I was all about getting to that one size, that specific weight. I thought that’s what health was about. Nowadays, the scale sits under a shelf in my closet covered in dust. I’m all about having ongoing health goals but when I had weight to lose I just started treating my body as I should have been all along…I did it by moving a few times a week, making good food choices but most importantly, I am constantly working on my mindset. God has been showing me the places I need to grow and it’s been life-changing. Humbling and difficult, but worth all the hard work. I could write endlessly about mindset but for now lets focus on filling our belly with delicious and good for your soul soup!

Back to my soup! I have been opting for soup as it’s so simple to put together (perfect for prepping while homeschooling) and eating cooked vegetables is more gentle on your digestion which is key when doing a detox. (Also great when not on a detox!) Cooked veggies are “pre-digested” therefore the nutrients are easier to digest and absorb! Cabbage is perfect for detox soup because it is rich in sulfur so it helps your liver break down toxins (making them easier to flush out) and it’s diuretic properties help rid your body of excess liquids and take the toxins with it! I don’t recommend eating this for every meal for days on end. That is not healthy. I do however, think that 1 day of both lunch and dinner would be fine if you’ve had a weekend of overindulgence (hello Super Bowl!) I love to have this for lunch or dinner! I cook a protein on the side and add it to the soup. My favorite at lunch is to cook a can of beans (cannellini, northern, kidney, pinto, black, you pick!) and then I add 1 cup to my soup. If having for dinner, I add 5 oz of a lean protein like chicken or turkey….turkey meatballs are my absolute favorite! Protein plays an important role when it comes to maintaining balanced blood sugar so I try to eat it at every meal these days!

• 1 1/3 cup diced onion
• 3/4 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup diced carrots
• 1 small head of cabbage, chopped.
• 1 bunch of kale (I eyeball it, about 4 cups. You can sub spinach, but I don’t know how the flavor profile will be. I very much prefer how kale holds up in soup)
• 2 cloves finely diced garlic (I use a garlic press )
• 28 oz. diced tomatoes
• 4 cups low sodium chicken broth plus 2 cups filtered water
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1/2 Tbsp Italian seasoning or Herb de Provence (My favorite!)
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Using a large dutch oven or large pot, sauté onion in olive oil for a few minutes until tender crisp, then add garlic, carrots and celery and sauté for a few more minutes. Add chopped cabbage, then salt and pepper, seasoning of choice, diced tomatoes and stir to combine. Stir in broth and water and bring to a simmer for 20 minutes. Add kale, simmer for 5 more minutes. Enjoy!! Leftovers are even better! Allow soup to cool down before refrigerating in a glass container. Best within 5 days.

What is your favorite soup? I’d love to hear! 😋

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