Recipe by Bailey Campbell

Forward by Smart Solutions

A quick and easy slaw with a creamy dressing. A crunchy, fresh, delicious combination of nourishing ingredients, this recipe features a special hormone balancing food.

Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage have many health benefits. They contain a special compound, sulforaphane, which is antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory.¹They’re also beneficial for hormonal health because they provide indole-3-carbinole (I3C), which produces diindolylmethane (DIM) upon digestion.² Both I3C and DIM help promote healthy estrogen balance and help to break down estrogens into non-toxic forms. ^3-5

In addition to the above, cabbage is rich in various nutrients, including calcium, proteins, and vitamins C and E.⁶ Talk about a special vegetable! Topped off with a creamy dressing made with tahini and sesame seeds for extra crunch, this dish deserves a spot on your rotating menu.

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• ½ small head purple cabbage, shredded
• ½ small head green cabbage, shredded
• Handful of cilantro leaves
• 1 watermelon radish
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp tahini
• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Sea salt + pepper
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, cilantro and watermelon radish.
2. In a small bowl, mix the lemon juice, tahini, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper until well combined. Taste and adjust seasonings, if desired.
3. Pour dressing over the cabbage mixture and mix until well coated. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, serve and enjoy!

Instagram Handle: @basicswithbails

References:

1. Kim, J. K., & Park, S. U. (2016). Current potential health benefits of sulforaphane. EXCLI journal, 15, 571–577. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2016-485
2. Katz, E., Nisani, S., & Chamovitz, D. A. (2018). Indole-3-carbinol: a plant hormone combatting cancer. F1000Research, 7, F1000 Faculty Rev-689. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.14127.1
3. Michnovicz JJ, Bradlow HL (1991) Altered estrogen metabolism and excretion in humans following consumption of indole-3-carbinol. Nutr Cancer. 1991;16(1):59-66.
4. Dalessandri KM, (2004) Pilot study: effect of 3,3'-diindolylmethane supplements on urinary hormone metabolites in postmenopausal women with a history of early-stage breast cancer. Nutr Cancer.2004;50(2):161-7.
5. Rajoria S et al, (2011) 3,3′-Diindolylmethane Modulates Estrogen Metabolism in Patients with Thyroid Proliferative Disease: A Pilot Study. Thyroid. Mar; 21(3): 299–304.
6. Yang D. K. (2018). Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) Protects against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress by Preventing Mitochondrial Dysfunction in H9c2 Cardiomyoblasts. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2018, 2179021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/2179021