The New Complete Book of Food

 The New Complete Book of Food

with no folic acid) for at least six months. The scientists, who found no reduction in the risk

of further heart disease or overall death rates among those taking folic acid, concluded that

further studies will be required to verify whether taking folic acid supplements reduces the

risk of cardiovascular disease.

Adverse Effects Associated with This Food

Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter). Cruciferous vegetables, including cabbage, contain goitrin,

thiocyanate, and isothiocyanate. These chemicals, known collectively as goitrogens, inhibit

the formation of thyroid hormones and cause the thyroid to enlarge in an attempt to pro-

duce more. Goitrogens are not hazardous for healthy people who eat moderate amounts of

cruciferous vegetables, but they may pose problems for people who have a thyroid condition

or are taking thyroid medication.

Intestinal gas. Bacteria that live naturally in the gut degrade the indigestible carbohydrates

(food fiber) in cabbage, producing gas that some people find distressing.

Food/Drug Interactions

Anticoagulants Cabbage contains vitamin K, the blood-clotting vitamin produced natu-

rally by bacteria in the intestines. Consuming large quantities of this food may reduce the

effectiveness of anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin). One cup of

shredded common green cabbage contains 163 mcg vitamin K, nearly three times the R DA

for a healthy adult; one cup of drained boiled common green cabbage contains 73 mcg vita-

min K, slightly more than the R DA for a healthy adult.

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors are drugs used to treat

depression. They inactivate naturally occurring enzymes in your body that metabolize tyra-

mine, a substance found in many fermented or aged foods. Tyramine constricts blood vessels

and increases blood pressure. If you eat a food such as sauerkraut which is high in tyramine

while you are taking an MAO inhibitor, you cannot effectively eliminate the tyramine from

your body. The result may be a hypertensive crisis.