Napa and Red Cabbage Salad

Salad:

• 2 cups Napa cabbage, chopped
• 1 cup red cabbage, chopped
• 1 cup presoaked/sprouted wheat berries
• 3 Tbsp. chopped organic cilantro
• ½ cup pineapple tidbits

Dressing:

• ¼ cup oil
• 2 cups apple cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. sesame oil
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• ¼ tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. mushroom extract

Garnish:
Pine nuts

Method:

1. Toss salad ingredients in a bowl.
2. Stir dressing ingredients together.
3. Add half the dressing to salad and toss. (Store extra dressing in refrigerator.)
4. Garnish with pine nuts and serve.

Notes:

1. Those who are estrogen-dominant and/or hypothyroid should not eat cabbage or other cruciferous vegetables more than twice a week. Romaine or mixed green lettuce can be substituted for the cabbage.
2. Sea salt may be substituted for mushroom extract and flaxseed oil may be used in place of olive oil if desired.

Cilantro is an herb best known for its chelation properties, meaning it is able to remove heavy metals, including lead, mercury, and aluminum from the body. These properties come from compounds that bind with metals so they can be released from the tissues and excreted. Heavy metal exposure is a part of daily living. These harmful metals are found in certain types of fish, aluminum cookware, deodorants, some medications, so-called silver fillings (which are actually made from mercury), and vaccines.

Research indicates that people who suffer from symptomatic mercury toxicity experience a reduction in symptoms after consuming large amounts of cilantro. Other studies show that rats fed cilantro were protected against lead accumulation after exposure. Some evidence shows that antibiotics may prevent the body from excreting heavy metals and may allow infections to recur. Consuming cilantro may help mitigate this effect.

The chelating and detoxifying properties of cilantro, when combined with other gentle means of detoxification, may help turn your diet into an effective, versatile tool to reduce your body’s toxic load and improve your overall wellbeing. This can be a useful strategy for those suffering from adrenal fatigue. When the body is affected by chronic stress as in adrenal fatigue, the slower natural detoxification processes results in a buildup of toxins in the body, making effective detoxification a priority for adrenal fatigue sufferers. The caveat is that most detoxification methods are harsh on the body and may trigger adrenal crashes. This makes gentle dietary detoxification methods a valuable tool for a smooth recovery from adrenal fatigue without triggering adrenal crashes.

Cilantro is also particularly high in chlorophyll, a powerful detoxifier that flushes toxins from the liver and removes excess bacteria. This bacteria typically colonizes in the armpits and feet and is responsible for body odors. Chlorophyll is, therefore, essentially a dietary deodorant that keeps bacterial under control. Cilantro’s antibacterial properties may also help protect against food-borne illness.

You may wish to limit your consumption of cilantro until the last few hours before bed. This is because cilantro has natural sedative effects that may help regulate your sleep cycle, improve your sleep quality, and calm your nerves. Recent research indicates that cilantro extract reduces anxiety as effectively as Valium without the common side effects of the drug, which may include confusion, hallucinations, aggression, memory problems, agitation, and muscle weakness.

Cilantro has shown to lower blood sugar levels. A recent study found that cilantro may help support healthy liver function and balance blood sugar levels in those with diabetes or other conditions related to blood sugar imbalances.

Cilantro has been used for millennia to help ease nausea, gas, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, and stomach cramps. The herb may help promote healthy digestion and stimulate the production of digestive enzymes responsible for breaking down foods. Cilantro also has a cooling effect, making it a great addition to spicy foods, as it can help prevent heartburn.