Ben and I were in China for almost a month in 2017, and one of the take aways from that trip was how focused the Chinese are on using foods and other ingredients, herbs, spices and more, as healing sources. Also impacting me was that the fact that the medicinal benefits of food are clearly passed down from generation to generation. Food is not just simply a matter of filling your belly, but it's an integral aspect of life that affects mind, body, spirit and soul. And, that's what's inspired this easy quick healing chicken soup.
Food Makes a Difference
There is no doubt that foods have healing properties. Just watch some of the Dr. Oz's episodes. Or Google a simple phrase like 'healing properties of food' and you'll get millions of results. When you choose your ingredients and make recipes, if you're just a tad bit more mindful of adding something that can be better for you then that is an added bonus. Or look at your recipe and think of ways to substitute healthier ingredients for ingredients that might not be as healthy for you. Many times the difference in taste is minimal, and the value in nutrition is greatly improved. So, it's a no brainer trade off.
Powerful Statement
This is a pretty powerful statement. "Diet has an influence on most medical conditions," says Andrew Weil, M.D., holistic health expert, author, and founder of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, who routinely asks patients to clean up their diets as part of treatment.
"For example, people with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes often improve when following an anti-inflammatory diet," he says. This program is heavy in vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and healthy fats.
This article goes on to talk more about the healing properties of food, but the essential takeaway is this: "Even the least alternative of doctors will tell you that food is very powerful when it comes to your health. And it doesn't take an elimination diet or sweeping changes to make a big difference. Food isn't a miracle that can replace modern medicine, but even small improvements to your current diet-such as cutting back on processed foods-can make you feel better right away and put you on a path to a lifetime of good health. Talk to a nutritionist or dietitian if you are considering making changes to your diet."
Be more Mindful
Mindfulness is a buzzword. You hear it often in today's world. I even hear it frequently in my yoga practice. Be mindful. Think about what you need to think about. Mindfulness is the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. So when you're cooking, ordering from a menu, grabbing something on the go, inclined to pick up processed foods or simply putting something into your mouth, be sure that most all of the time, it's going to be something that has healing properties and is good for you. Choose ingredients that heal your mind, body, soul and spirit.
Now be even more mindful and check out some of my chicken soup recipes! Plus, at the end of this recipe, you'll see links for spices and the nutritional yeast. It's a great investment to have if you're making a lot of my recipes because these are staples for flavor and health.
- 2 ½ to 3 lbs. chicken, thighs, breasts, bone in, skin on
- 2 cups potatoes, medium dice
- 2 cups carrots, medium dice
- 2 cups celery, with leaves, medium dice
- 2 cups sweet onions, medium dice
- 2 Tbl. Nutritional Yeast
- 1 Tbl. Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp. turmeric
- 1 tsp. curry powder
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
- 2 tsp. sea salt, adjust per your sodium taste
Ingredients
Instructions
