COLE SLAW: my corner post for healing

Have you ever looked closely at Slaw? Probably not; why should you? It’s basically shredded cabbage. However, when you start to research that unpretentious, long keeping, little vegetable you find it to be a nutritional storehouse. Cabbage is extremely high in calcium. Most nutritional specialist sing the praises of broccoli as the leader in organic calcium. Yet, cupful to cupful cabbage leads as the best organic source of  this important mineral.

Other notable qualities found listed on the cabbage nutritional profile are the B vitamins: Niacin (B3), Riboflavin (B2)  and Thiamine (B1).  Stress, alcohol and sugar destroy B vitamins. People dealing with stressful conditions, illness or post surgery need extra amounts of these B’s.These three B’s aid digestion, stabilize emotions, relieving irritability and depression while generally aiding the entire nervous system. They are even more effective when combined with calcium and phosphorus. The combo helps prevent constipation or edema and assist the urinary system.  What a master plan that cabbage would naturally be very high in those minerals as well.

Cabbage also contains high levels of potassium and organic sodium (not the same as table salt) which are beneficial to heart function and problems like arrhythmia. These nutrients along with high levels of antioxidants, and Vitamins A&C make slaw a wonderful food for your over-all health. Add some carrot to your slaw and you’ve doubled the available vitamin A and organic sodium. 

My rabbits and I eat slaw almost every day. I shred up a half gallon container twice a week. Having this in easy reach in the refrigerator means that no matter what I serve there a fast easy salad slaw to enhance the meal.My rabbits, Patch and Magic, like their slaw  plain, but I vary the dressing I mix into it day to day. Sometimes a bit of mayonnaise and lime juice, or some olive oil, agave nectar and celery seed, or maybe just some sweet onion vinaigrette.

I learned from my rabbits, Patch and Magic, not to eat slaw that is over 3 days old. I’m not sure why they refuse it on the 4th day, but animal wisdom is often greater than ours, so I watch, learn and follow. One more difference in the way we eat slaw is that I always top mine off with some Honduran Chimol…a salsa type relish popular in this part of Central America. It is another one of my corner posts for good health. Watch for the recipe in a future blog piece or contact me through a comment here or on my website: www.wisdompathway.com