Kale Radicchio Salad with Meyer Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

This Kale Radicchio Salad is wonderfully balanced and an extremely healthy salad that does not compromise on flavor.  The bitterness of the radicchio blends perfectly with the sweetness of the pomegranate seeds and the floral tones of the basil.

Have you heard the phrase “compassion fatigue”?  I just learned that when one has so much compassion for people, animals or the planet that they can literally become fatigued and become desensitized.  This concept is not something that we are normally taught so we aren’t naturally prepared for it when it occurs.  This is especially true for caregivers or rescue workers.  I think that a lot of us have been impacted this past year by the hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, etc. Compassion fatigue has become so widespread due to the media bombarding us with incessant tragedies.

It’s important for us to align with our own natural rhythms through self-care.  Some of the ways to heal from “compassion fatigue” is to be around positive people, watching positive shows, exercise, be in nature,  walk on the earth barefoot, eat well and get plenty of rest.

This salad is chocked full of vitamins and minerals that can help with the nutrition side of compassion fatigue.

Kale is low in calories, high in fiber and it is a loaded with antioxidants which help detox the liver. It is also an anti-inflammatory with omega-3 fatty acids, which is helpful for arthritis, joint pain and asthma. Kale has more Iron than beef and more calcium than milk which helps prevents osteoporosis, joint flexibility and helps maintain normal bone health. It is great for cardiovascular support that helps in lowering cholesterol. It is really high in vitamin A, C, and super high in the powerful antioxidant vitamin K (anyone taking anticoagulants should avoid kale because of the high level of vitamin K that may interfere with the drugs.)  More on kale

Pomegranate seeds vibrant red juice contains higher antioxidants levels than most fruit juices, which helps keep Alzheimer’s disease at bay by helping with memory. They provide you with about 40% of your daily requirements of vitamin C. Pomegranates are full of antioxidants called flavonols. Flavonols are anti-inflammatory agents that help reduce inflammation like arthritis. Naturally lowers blood pressure.

Red Cabbage is extremely high in antioxidants and phytochemicals thus making it beneficial in helping our immune system stay strong. These antioxidants also help our cells to stay young and along with the vitamin A, it improves the elasticity of our skin.  It helps the skin reduce signs of aging, minimizing wrinkles and age spots.  It is low in calories and very high in fiber content that is helpful in keeping you regular and to lose weight. Red cabbage help protect the cognitive activity of your brain which helps keep your brain youthful and reduces your chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Red cabbage is the highest in vitamin K than other cabbage that helps with brain function. It is rich in Calcium and helps to ensure healthy bones.

Fennel has a very good source of fiber that helps limit cholesterol build-up and to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol in the blood.  The fiber also helps remove carcinogens from the colon and it can eliminate constipation.  It contains the phytonutrient anethole, the main part of its volatile oil that has been shown to reduce inflammation and also helping to prevent the occurrence of cancer.  It is an excellent source of vitamin C, which is helpful for eye inflammation, and reduces premature aging and macular degeneration.  There are high levels of potassium in the fennel bulbs and seeds and can help increase brain function and cognitive abilities.  It also increases the reach of oxygen to the brain.  The fronds of the fennel bulbs contain important vitamins, like pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin.