Low Histamine Coleslaw Recipe for People With Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Histamine Intolerance (also Low Lectin, Low Oxalate, with Low FODMAP and Low Salicylate options)
Sometimes when you have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or Histamine Intolerance, you just want to be able to go back to some classic flavors.
I’ve been craving fresh and bright flavors. And I really like a good coleslaw!
Not, like a drowning in mayo coleslaw. Or a tired, sat too long at a restaurant, yucky coleslaw. But one that has some bright, crisp flavors. And is actually nourishing as well as mast cell and histamine supporting!
This coleslaw recipe takes a detour from traditional creamy slaw. Mayonnaise is high histamine, so you want to avoid it if you have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or Histamine Intolerance. But I’ve got a good substitute.
And this version of coleslaw is full of histamine lowering ingredients! Let’s take a look at a few of those ingredients next.
The main ingredient is cabbage, just like in other slaw recipes. Cabbage is high in sulfur. That’s great news if you have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Sulfur helps mast cells make heparin sulfate. And mast cells use heparin sulfate to stabilize themselves.
So definitely eat those veggies containing sulfur, if you can!
Another main ingredient — carrots. Carrots have beta-carotene, the precursor to the active form of Vitamin A called retinol. Retinol is also a great mast cell stabilizer.
To get the lowest histamine carrots, choose ones with the tops still on. Make sure the green tops look fresh and not wilted. When you get them home, cut the greens off before you store the carrots in the fridge. That step is important because otherwise the greens will keep pulling nutrients out of the carrots.
Half a cup of raw carrots is high oxalate. To reduce to medium oxalate you can boil half a cup of carrots making sure to discard the cooking water.
Next up — green onions. They are packed with quercetin! Quercetin has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
And last — extra virgin olive oil. A good quality extra virgin olive oil can be histamine lowering. It helps the body release the enzyme Diamine Oxidase. That enzyme, called DAO for short, reduces histamine throughout the whole body!
And extra virgin olive oil has tons of other health benefits. But you want to make sure the olive oil you are buying is really extra virgin.
Many olive oils say they are extra virgin but aren’t.
You can read more about olive oil fraud, benefits of extra virgin olive oil, and what to look for here. The extra virgin olive oil I like is Kasandrinos. (If you can’t use olive oil, though, then check out the sub below)
This coleslaw also pairs nicely with a side of rutabaga fries and a low histamine chicken or pork roast!
Now for the Low Histamine Slaw recipe!
Low Histamine Coleslaw Recipe
For a delicious meal pair coleslaw with:
- Chicken with Green Sauce – Low Histamine, Low Oxalate, and Low Lectin
- Rosemary Roasted Garlic Pork Chops – Low Histamine, Low Oxalate, and Low Lectin
- Low Histamine Pork Roast – Low Oxalate, Low Lectin, Low FODMAP, Low Salicylate Options
This recipe makes about 10 – 12 cups of slaw. You can half or quarter this if you don’t want leftovers.
Ingredients:
- 1 head green cabbage
- ½ head red cabbage (omit red cabbage and use only the green/white cabbage for low salicylate)
- 8 organic carrots (keep at 1-2 carrots only for low salicylate, boil 1/2 cup of carrots to reduce to medium oxalate or omit for low oxalate)
- 2 green onions (use green tops only for low FODMAP)
- ½ cup Kasandrinos Extra Virgin Olive Oil
(for low salicylate, use sub expeller-pressed, organic sunflower oil instead. A good organic one is La Tourangelle) - 1 tsp Redmond Real Salt
- 4 drops organic stevia* (can omit if salicylate sensitive)
- 1 bunch cilantro (optional)
- 1 yellow or red delicious apple (optional) (peel for low salicylate, omit for low FODMAP)
Directions:
- Chop green and red cabbage into small pieces. You can also use a food processor to shred the cabbage. But when I have the time, I like to chop it by hand for this recipe. I’ve found that the cabbage has more of a sulfur taste when I use the food processor.
- Shred the carrots. I definitely use a food processor for this.
- Chop green onions.
- Chop cilantro, if using.
- Mix all the veggies together in a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, blend extra virgin olive oil, salt, and stevia together with a whisk. Once blended, pour over the slaw.
- If using the apple, peel and chop finely. Only add to the portion you are eating. (The apple won’t freeze well.)
Enjoy!
For leftovers, freeze in individual serving size containers.
Eat while it’s still a little frosty. It will get mushy if it defrosts entirely.
To thaw, pop in the microwave for 30-60 seconds (I leave the room while the microwave is running). Or you can run the container under hot water to flash thaw. Or let warm in a toaster oven.
I hope you enjoy this recipe! Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Have food sensitivities? Check out my Nervous System Reboot course to help calm mast cells.
More Low Histamine Sides
- Low Histamine Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad – Low Oxalate and Low Lectin, with Low Salicylate option
- Roasted Garlic Dip – Low to Medium Oxalate and Low Lectin
- Low Histamine Rutabaga Fries Recipe – Low Oxalate, Low Lectin, Low FODMAP, Low Salicylate
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I don’t know if I have lectin and oxalate sensitivities but I know I have sulfur/sulfite sensitivities due to genetic variation. So, trying this to see how I feel. I added camu camu powder for a vinegar-like flavor to the dressing and celery seeds.
Let me know if you like the camu camu powder! Here is a link to another post which talks more about lectin and oxalate sensitivities. I hope you will find it helpful. https://mastcell360.com/do-you-need-to-worry-about-oxalates-and-lectins-with-mast-cell-activation-syndrome-and-histamine-intolerance/
Took me some time to adjust for the camu camu…a little more monk fruit. And found pomegranate powder at Whole Foods beside camu camu! So I have started adding that as a flavor (like a pomegranate wannabe “vinegarette” ;). I also added some mineral water and kept it as a separate dressing instead of mixing all together. Celery seeds were ok for me and nice flavor with cabbage.
I can’t describe the feeling and it was not carb withdrawal because Ottos cassava flour is now a carb satisfier for me. But i decided to eat an organic potato and felt much much better, so I’m still playing around with lectins and oxalate but know glutamates are an issue for me. Feeling more hopeful, but so excited to get a genetic test done somehow so I can work the diet and supplement details out eventually.
Hi Beth,
Thanks for these amazing recipes. I’m buying ingredients so I’m ready! The California Olive Ranch link goes someplace else. Is this the url?
https://www.amazon.com/California-Olive-Ranch-Everyday-Virgin/dp/B07B5KJQ4Y/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=California+Olive+Ranch&qid=1588742873&s=grocery&sr=1-3
Teresa
Hi Teresa! Thanks for letting me know about the link! Here is the one I like: https://amzn.to/3cPbCjh
Thank you for low fodmap options! I’m doing better on a low fodmap diet but I’m still battling Candida, so the carrots might not be an option right now for me. 🙁 I pinned to try later if not! Thanks for this recipe!
Amy, sorry to hear your dealing with Candida. I’m not sure what you’ve tried. But, I’ve had great success with Dr. Amy Myers. Here is her link
https://www.amymyersmd.com/start-here/.
Best of luck 💕
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I’m just confused because other sites and lists include cabbage as a histamine liberator and say to avoid it. I don’t know about everyone else but after years of getting conflicting info, seeing doctors that have no definitive answers, and feeling like I’ve just become allergic to food, I’m ready to give up.
Hi Rosee, yes we completely understand the frustration of conflicting information on the internet. Beth has done extensive research on histamine foods, liberators, DAO blockers. But of course everyone is different and may experience sensitivities to different foods outside of just histamines. This is why we try to include variations for our recipes for lower FODMAP and Salicylate options and label lectins and oxalates as well. For those in our population that tolerate very little foods, we often recommend working on the nervous system. You can check out our Nervous System Reboot course here in case you are interested in learning more: https://mastcell360.com/mastcell-reboot/
Hi, I haven’t tried any of your recipes as this is my 1st look and it appears that everything I eat just throws my body into a frenzy even water. I just don’t know what to eat or do neither does the doctors. I will try your recipes and hope it helps. Thanks.
Hi Stacie,
I hope these recipes will give you something tasty to try. You can check out the foods list here, too:
https://mastcell360.com/low-histamine-foods-list/
Suz
Id love to see a no cabbage coleslaw. Most people with histamine intolerance are very sensitive to glutamate, which cabbage is very high in.
Hi Jeff! Thank you so much for sharing your suggestion! We are always looking for new recipes to try!
Hi, I haven’t tried any of your recipes because this is my first look at them, but it seems like anything I consume, even water, sends my body into a tizzy. I simply have no idea what to eat or do, and neither do the physicians. I’ll try your recipes and I hope they’ll be helpful. Thanks.
Hi Alice,
We are so sorry to hear your are struggling with sensitivities right now. One of the first steps we have clients work on if they are not tolerating food and supplements is nervous system work. You can learn more about why this is so important to healing in this post: https://mastcell360.com/nervous-system-balance-is-essential-in-mast-cell-activation-syndrome-and-histamine-intolerance/
You might also want to look into water filtration if this isn’t something you’ve done yet. This is the filter that we recommend in our practice: https://mastcell360.com/aquatru-water-filter/
Best wishes,
Jamie
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I didn’t use stevia because I want to reduce adding sweet to a recipe that can do great without it. This is one of them. Carrots & the apple are sweet to me, at least
Thanks for sharing! Glad to hear the recipe worked with your modifications!