We Really Are What We Eat
We all know about how the digestive system moves food through the body, saving nutrients and getting rid of waste. But did you know that a pretty significant portion of the calories we take in are actually used to feed our gut bacteria? Yes, all of us have bacteria in our gut that we are learning more and more about. Gut health, it seems, has a huge impact on whole-body health. Researchers are discovering that more and more organ systems are influenced by the gut environment (the “microbiome”), and these links are gaining attention as possible factors in a number of diseases. It turns out that the gut may be at least as important as the brain in determining our health!
We are just beginning to discover the many ways in which a healthy or unhealthy gut can impact our health, but we already know a lot about the impact on our immune system. Did you know that more than 70% of your immune system resides in your gut? And your immune system fights off disease best when your microbiome has a good balance of different kinds of healthy flora. When this balance gets out of whack, the presence of too many bad bacteria can shift the immune system into an inflammatory state. That’s when we get sick.
There is no better time than cold and flu season to start taking care of your gut health! Make sure your immune system is geared up and ready by taking a good probiotic on a regular basis (yes, it may help you get rid of that cold faster or prevent one altogether), get plenty of rest and make sure to eat nourishing food that will help soothe your gut.
I offer you the recipe below, to warm and nourish your gut, because it is full of foods and spices that are especially known to help decrease inflammation. You can make it spicy or mild, according to taste but it’s sure to take the chill off a cold and rainy night!
Coconut Curry Soup (Serves 6-8)
INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1-2 tablespoons curry paste (season according to taste and how spicy you want yours)
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon fresh turmeric, peeled and grated (or 1 teaspoon dried)
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
pinch of Aleppo pepper or cayenne
2 teaspoons sea salt
4 carrots
2 stalks celery
2 cups cauliflower (broccoli also works)
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
4 cups vegetable broth (or bone broth)
1 can coconut milk (full fat)
½ cup tomatoes, diced (optional)
¼ cup cilantro, chopped
1 ½ cups garbanzo beans (one BPA-free can)
1 bunch of kale, stalks removed and loosely sliced
Salt & pepper to taste
Juice of 1 lime (reserve until the end)
Crushed red pepper flakes (optional) and cilantro for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS::
In a Dutch oven, sauté the onion until softened. Next add the curry, ginger, garlic, turmeric, sea salt and pinch of aleppo or cayenne to the pot. Cook, stirring, for a few minutes. Add in the carrots, celery, cauliflower, kale and sweet potato and cook, stirring, for about 5 more minutes. Toss in the garbanzo beans and stir. Add the broth and coconut milk, stirring to mix, and bring to a boil. The liquids should cover the vegetables like a soup. (Adjust liquid amount if necessary.) Turn the heat down to a simmer and cover for about 25-30 minutes or until all the vegetables can be pierced with a fork. Turn off the heat and add in the tomatoes, if using, and the kale. Let them sit for 3-5 minutes to let the tomatoes warm and the kale wilt.
Before serving squeeze the juice of one lime and stir in the cilantro. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Serve hot with extra lime slices and cilantro.
Note: This soup may be served over a bed of brown rice or some zucchini noodles.
I often hear people say “healthy living” is too difficult, costly and time-consuming. I just don’t believe that’s true. If you can learn about the best choices for you and the shortcuts that will get you there, you can profoundly affect your own health. How do I know? Because food helped me turn my own health around. What I found on my journey is that food truly is medicine and that, when given the right ingredients, the human body has the power to heal itself. I learned that eating a whole food, nutrient-dense diet is both delicious and easier than I ever believed, I found that making healthy choices doesn't have to leave you feeling deprived, exhausted or overwhelmed. Living a better way isn't complicated and is well within your reach!