I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials for the pills and gels promising to reduce the symptoms of “low T.” “It’s just a number,” they say, then promise increased muscle and bone mass, elevated mood, more energy and a whole host of other benefits. Sounds appealing.

Perhaps you can skip the pills. I have an alternate solution.

Red cabbage.

I’ve got your attention now, right? From mensfitness.uk:

Cabbage is rammed with indole-3-carbinol (IC3), a phytochemical that increases your testosterone according to a study at the Rockefeller University Hospital in New York. The study also found that when men were given IC3, their levels of the female hormone estrogen reduced by 50%.

This is probably a good time to remind you that adding cabbage to your diet of Oreos and Doritos won’t make you ripped. However, at Kaplifestyle, we are all about adding value at the margins. If, over time, we find that we can sprinkle enjoyable foods into our already strong nutritional repertoire, eventually we become a fortress of good health.

If you’re happy with your testosterone levels, don’t pass on the cabbage. You didn’t think I’d ignore the female half of my readers, right? Fromwhfoods.com:

The rich red color of red cabbage reflects its concentration of anthocyanin polyphenols, which contribute to red cabbage containing significantly more protective phytonutrients than green cabbage. Interest in anthocyanin pigments continues to intensify because of their health benefits as dietary antioxidants, as an anti-inflammatory, and their potentially protective, preventative, and therapeutic roles in a number of human diseases.

We can all use a little more color in our diet. Red cabbage also doses you with Vitamin C (so you can stop with those powders to “prevent colds”), Vitamins A and K and lots of fiber.

I know you’re on board at this point, so let’s talk about how to eat it. I’m crushing it on an airplane as we speak. Sure, you may get some funny looks when you savagely bite off a huge chunk of a ball of cabbage on your flight. Your flight attendants and fellow passengers may laugh at you, but you’ve been here before. Supreme health requires a strong shield of thick skin.

I know, you want a more socially accepted method. Start simple by shredding cabbage and adding it to your salads. I dig kale, spinach, arugula and chard, but my veggie mixes take flight when I add red cabbage. No disrespect to the greens, but they lack the subtle sweetness provided by the vividly hued leaves. Dressed lightly with hummus and paired with a grass-fed steak leaves me feeling nutritionally drenched.

If you’re struggling with the taste, you can add it to juice or, better yet, smoothies. Stronger flavors like apple, lemon and carrots will mask the cabbage while still providing nutritional benefits.

There’s no getting around it, folks love shortcuts. Supermarket shelves are packed with supplement options that offer upside similar to what you might find from a cup or two of shredded purple cabbage. You can take a multi vitamin or you can just eat the veggie. The former is a processed pill and the latter a cruciferous vegetable with endless health benefits.

See you tomorrow when we discuss lettuce (kidding).

Kap