Cereal, bread, muffins, pastries, pancakes and omelettes are fine choices if you are well and don’t need to boost your nutrition. However, if you are like most people, you will do anything to rake in more nutrients. If you have an autoimmune disease, it is important to consume a nutrient dense breakfast free of grain.
Many Asian countries begin their breaking of the nightly fast with a steamy bowl of soup rich in vitamins and minerals.
In this day and age, so many people are suffering from a myriad of mysterious chronic health problems that include auto-immune illnesses such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Leaky Gut Syndrome, Lupus, Hashimotos’s as well as Candidiasis, Diabetes, Cancer and the Neurological illnesses that include MS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s to name a few.
Many of the specialized healing food diets that are being prescribed by Integrative Health Practitioners, Functional Medicine and Naturopathic Doctors exclude the consumption of sugar and starches due to its breaking down into simple sugar in the body. This leaves us with the question, “What is one to consume for breakfast?” Good question. Why not a healthy vegetable soup that is chock full of vegetables super rich in nutrients? If that is not filling enough, add some kelp noodles which are grain free and some chicken chunks for protein.
The main reason that most people cannot seem to adjust to this idea is simply because certain foods are associated with breakfast and soup is not one of them. You need to break out of this way of thinking. There are many people in various countries around the world that do not eat the standard American breakfast and many of them are quite healthy.
I am including a simple recipe for a healing soup that includes what I call the magic healing trio of garlic, ginger and turmeric as well as burdock root, shiitakes, bok choy, watercress and kelp noodles which are not made of starch and are a good source of iodine. This soup is a rich potpourri of nutrients. It is easy to assemble. If you cannot commit to having it every day, at least try consuming it 2-3 times per week.
Let’s get serious about healing our illnesses and enjoy a healthy body once again!
Healing Vegetable Soup
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon minced turmeric
- 1/2 medium onion diced
- 1 medium burdock root peeled and sliced thinly
- 1 1/2 cups shiitakes sliced
- 1 1/2 cups bok choy chopped (whites and greens)
- 1 cup watercress
- 10 cups filtered water
- 8 ounce bag kelp noodles (optional)
- 3 tablespoons minced parsley
- 1-3 tablespoons Coconut Aminos
- 1/2 pound chicken cubed (optional)
- Sea salt to taste
Procedure:
In a large pot, add the oil, garlic, ginger and turmeric and let it cook on medium heat until slightly golden in color. Add the onions, followed by the vegetables and filtered water and the optional kelp noodles and chicken, if using. If you desire a thicker soup, add less water and if you want a thinner one, add more. Adjust seasonings to taste.
Note: For the Candida Diet, leave out the shiitake mushrooms. For the GAPS Diet, leave out the burdock. For the Low FODMAPS Diet, leave out the garlic, onion and shiitake mushrooms.
Ilia Regini is a certified healing through food specialist/health supportive chef/culinary instructor/writer/blogger and speaker. Healthy Nourished Body offers chef service, cooking lessons, healthy kitchen makeovers and customized menu planning for healing through food dietary protocols. www.healthynourishedbody.com www.facebook.com/wellnourishedbody63 e:[email protected]
