Coleslaw With Sour Cream Dressing

Cabbage has major health benefits. Research has shown that compounds in cabbage are converted to isothiocyanates that provide protection in our bodies from breast, bladder, prostate and colon cancer. A University of Otago study in New Zealand found that the isothiocyanates in cruciferous vegetable such as cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts and cauliflower can even cause cancer cells to destruct. A study in Poland found that women that consumed 4 servings a week of cabbage had significantly lower breast cancer rates than women who consumed only one serving a week. Regularly eating raw or lightly steamed cabbage helps lower cholesterol. Cabbage is rich in antioxidants and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties in our bodies. Cabbage juice aids in the healing of stomach ulcers and improves digestive health. While we don’t usually think of cabbage as a source of vitamin C, it is interesting to note that 1 cup of cabbage provides 50 % of the daily recommended value of vitamin C and 91 percent of DRV of vitamin K. Vitamin K is known to help keep our arteries clean. Amazingly cabbage also has omega 3 in the form of alpha linolenic acid. Cabbage scores low on the glycemic index, is low in carbohydrate and is a good choice to prevent blood sugar spikes. Cabbage has only 33 calories per cup, making it a perfect diet food that is packed with healthy vitamins. Red cabbage is a nutrient powerhouse with 6 to 8 times more antioxidant abilities than green cabbage, so feel free to chop and mix some into the green cabbage.

In the past I have made coleslaw with commercial mayo or salad dressing, and it always bothered me that they contain industrial cooking oils. This is a dressing that gives you all the creaminess that we love in coleslaw, with out the worry of consuming bad fats. The combination of honey and dairy in this dressing is a healthy food combo, as the honey makes the calcium in the dairy more bio-available. This dressing has only about 2 grams of fat, per tablespoon compared with a tablespoon of mayonnaise at 11 grams of fat. Also note that the fat in dairy is beneficial for its butyrate content, so go full fat for the flavor and the health benefits. Sour cream is a source of vitamin A, vitamin D, Vitamin E, calcium and phosphorus. Sour cream is a source of butyrate, and the higher the fat content, the more butyrate it contains. Butyrate helps maintain a healthy gut lining and aids in preventing leaky gut, and gut inflammation. Much of our immune system is in our gut, so in butyrate supporting the gut it also supports our immune system. Our bodies have a gut-brain axis, and a healthy gut, is often also a healthy brain.

Coleslaw with Sour Cream Dressing

5 cups shredded cabbage and carrot

Sour Cream Dressing

1/2 cup sour cream, 14 percent

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoon vinegar

2 teaspoons honey

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Combine all the dressing ingredients, and stir until smooth. Pour on the cabbage/carrot mixture, and stir to combine.