One day I was craving cabbage, so I decided to create a coleslaw recipe of my own. My inspiration was a new balsamic vinegar that is now available at Mother Earth’s Storehouse where I work in upstate New York. I was thinking about dishes that would work well with this new vinegar. Since it has a natural sweetness I knew I could forgo the added sugar commonly found in coleslaw recipes. There is also a citrus flavor. They both work quite well in coleslaw. If this ingredient is unavailable, you can substitute with white balsamic vinegar and fresh lemon juice.

Ingredients

5 cups shredded cabbage (red or green)
1 cup shredded carrots
7–8 tablespoons Vegenaise, or your favorite mayo
(I like to use reduced fat Vegenaise, but you can use your favorite)
4 tablespoons lemon balsamic vinegar
(if you don’t have this type of vinegar, you can use white balsamic and lemon juice)
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
¼ teaspoon salt
Pinch of celery seeds

Add all ingredients to a large bowl. Stir well to combine. The longer the salad marinates, the more flavorful it will become. Serve cold or at room temperature. Serves 4–6.

Health Benefits of Cabbage

• Ideal for weight loss!
  It has only 33 calories in a cup of cooked cabbage, is low in fat and high in fiber. It is definitely a smart carb.
• It is a brain food!
  It is full of vitamin K and anthocyanins that help with mental function and concentration. These nutrients also prevent nerve damage, improving your defense against Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. Red cabbage has the highest amount of these power nutrients.
• High in sulfur, the beautifying mineral.
  Cabbage helps dry up oily and acne skin. Internally sulfur is essential for keratin, a protein substance necessary for healthy hair, nails, and skin. Check out thisHomemade Cabbage Face Mask
• Helps detoxify the body.
  The high content of vitamin C and sulphur in cabbageremoves toxins (free radicals and uric acid). These are the main causes of arthritis, skin diseases, rheumatism and gout.
• Has well-known cancer preventativecompounds lupeol, sinigrin and sulforaphane.
  They stimulate enzyme activity and inhibit the growth of cancer tumors. A Study on women showed a reduction in breast cancer when cruciferous vegetables like cabbage were added to their diet.
• Helps keep blood pressure from getting high.
  The high potassium content helps by opening up blood vessels, easing the flow of blood.
• Cabbage for headaches
  A warm compress made with cabbage leaves can help relieve the pain of a headache. Crush cabbage leaves, place in a cloth, and apply on the forehead. Also, drink raw cabbage juice 1-2 oz. (25-50ml) daily for chronic headaches.
• Hangovers from heavy drinkingwere reduced by using cabbage, since Roman times.
• Anti-inflammatory and Blood Sugar Regulator.
  The natural red pigments of red cabbage (betalains) is said to lower blood sugar levels and boost insulin production. Of course it has no white sugars and very few simple sugars. Betalains have powerful anti-inflammatory properties just like beets.