Asian Cabbage Mushroom Soup

An Asian-inspired cabbage and mushroom soup made with shiitake, bok choy, ginger, and coconut milk — rich in phytonutrients and supportive of steady blood sugar.

This recipe is inspired by Dr. Will Cole and his book “The Keto-Tarian Cookbook“, which blends plant-based eating with lower-carb principles.

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There’s a common misconception that keto is the way to eat for cancer. The reasoning often goes:

Cancer feeds on sugar → remove carbs → starve cancer.

It sounds simple. But the human body — and cancer biology — are not that simple.

If you were to remove every food ever associated with cancer risk, eliminate all debated compounds, avoid all carbohydrates, and eat only foods considered “metabolically safe,” you’d be left with an extremely restrictive and unsustainable diet.

There is emerging research around therapeutic ketogenic diets in certain clinical contexts. But it is nuanced, individualized, and far more complex than eliminating carbohydrates across the board.

If you’d like the full breakdown of my research and perspective, I go much deeper in my article on the ketogenic diet and cancer (linked here).

What Makes It An Anti-Cancer Recipe:

This soup is rich in ingredients that research has associated with protective and supportive properties.

Shiitake Mushrooms: contain beta-glucans and lentinan, compounds studied for immune-modulating properties. Certain studies suggest mushrooms may support immune surveillance and healthy inflammatory balance.

Ginger: contains gingerols and shogaols — bioactive compounds that have been studied for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.

Bok Choy & Cabbage Family Vegetables: Cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates, which convert into compounds like sulforaphane. Research has linked these compounds to cellular detoxification pathways and protective mechanisms.

Arame Sea Vegetable: Sea vegetables provide iodine and trace minerals. Some studies suggest that marine compounds may have unique antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Coconut Milk: While high in fat, coconut milk provides medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are metabolized differently than long-chain fats and may support metabolic flexibility.

Together, these ingredients create a deeply nourishing soup that supports immune health, blood sugar balance, and inflammation regulation — all foundational pillars in cancer-conscious eating.

Why This Version Is More Cancer-Conscious

Traditional keto recipes often:

• Overemphasize animal fats
• Rely heavily on processed meats
• Eliminate whole plant carbohydrates entirely

That approach may lower glucose — but it can also reduce fiber, phytonutrients, and protective plant compounds.

This recipe, however:
✔ Emphasizes plants
✔ Uses whole-food fats
✔ Includes cruciferous vegetables
✔ Avoids processed meats
✔ Avoids refined oils

Intentional Oil Swap

Dr. Cole’s original recipe uses toasted sesame oil. While delicious, sesame oil has a lower smoke point and can oxidize more easily when heated at higher temperatures.

In our kitchen, we use avocado oil for sautéing because of its higher smoke point and greater oxidative stability. (You can read more about smoke points and cooking oils in this article here)

You can finish the soup with a small drizzle of toasted sesame oil off heat for flavoir — but we avoid cooking in it.

The Glycemic Load Breakdown

Glycemic Load per serving: Approximately 6–8 (estimated)
This recipe has a low Glycemic Load per serving, falling into the low category (0–10).

Low-GL meals help keep blood sugar steady, support metabolic health, and reduce inflammation — all important pillars in cancer-conscious eating.

How GL is calculated:
Glycemic Load = (Glycemic Index × grams of carbohydrates per serving) ÷ 100

Because this soup is fiber-rich and contains primarily non-starchy vegetables, its blood sugar impact remains minimal despite containing whole plant foods.

To learn more about why GL matters for cancer-conscious cooking, read my full article:
Why the Glycemic Index Matters When It Comes to Cancer