Absolutely consuming protein is important after a workout. But don’t limit your sites to protein shakes alone. Don’t get me wrong, I love protein shakes but sometimes I just want to chew something.
There are lots of great protein sources you can tap in to. Eggs and hemp heart are 2 of them.
As for the rest of the ingredients they all a have purpose beyond great taste.
Pea shoots are loaded with vitamins A & C as well as their own kick of protein.
And I always try to add a fermented food when possible. Sourdough and apple cider vinegar are today’s fair.
This is a very interesting study that brings to light a possible connection between inflammation and our chronic deficiency of Vitamin D. Up until now we have assumed that it has been our chronic deficit of Vitamin D intake weakening our immune system. This study suggests the possibility that inflammation may impede our ability to metabolize Vitamin D adequately.
“Some authorities now believe that low 25(OH)D is a consequence of chronic inflammation rather than the cause. Research points to a bacterial etiology pathogenesis for an inflammatory disease process which results in high 1,25(OH)2D and low 25(OH)D. Immunotherapy, directed at eradicating persistent intracellular pathogens, corrects dysregulated vitamin D metabolism and resolves inflammatory symptoms.”
Should the findings of this study bear merit, the importance of paying heed to our microbiome is once again brought and front and underlying the importance of striving for good gut health.
We all want to live a life that is full of health and vitality. But where do we start on our path to wellness?
It is becoming increasingly clear that our good health is intimately tied to the health of our gut. Our gut houses the majority of our immune system and the bulk of our microbiome and our gut depends upon our good diet to function well.
So where do we begin to transform our health? Right here.
By downloading your free Gut Healing Meal Plan you will have the dietary outline to begin your health transformation.
This plan comes with all the recipes that you need and a complete shopping list to make your transition to healthy eating an easy one.
It’s free and it’s yours by clicking the big black button below!
Our spleen is the unsung hero of our immune system. Situated on the left side of our body and above our stomach, our spleen acts as both a storage reservoir and a filtration system for our blood stream, helping to remove harmful bacteria and viruses before they can do us damage.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) a key mechanism of supporting our spleen is avoiding cooling foods and beverages and consuming warming ones. Added to this is the belief that sweetness from whole foods is also supportive. Sugary processed foods absolutely do not benefit us in any way!
The 2 key ingredients in this Butternut Squash soup support our spleen with warmth and sweetness. Warmth comes not only from the temperature of the soup but also by the addition of ginger. Ginger is a warming spice. Butternut squash is a complex carbohydrate on the sweeter spectrum of taste as you will experience with this soup.
Fall is the perfect time to enjoy this recipe and give a little love to your spleen!
(A side note for this recipe. I love the taste of ginger and it comes shining through with the added amount of 1 Tablespoon. If you are more towards the shy end of your ginger flavouring reduce the amount by half.)
Butternut Squash Soup
6 Servings
Ingredients
1 Butternut Squash cut lengthwise and seeds removed
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 leeks (Diced)
3 garlic cloves (chopped)
1 tsp Sea Salt
1 Tbsp fresh ginger (about 3/4 of an inch)
4 cups organic vegetable broth
1 pinch of Chili flakes
Directions
Preheat oven to 180C or 350F.
Bake squash until tender, approximately 40 minutes. Let cool and remove skin.
Put olive oil in to your pot and add leeks, garlic and salt. Sautee until tender.
Add squash, ginger and chili flakes to pot along with vegetable broth. Simmer for 5 minutes
Puree soup with hand held blender or in a stand up blender. Return to heat and cook on low heat for 10 minutes.
Serve when done.
Gut Health is key to good health. Download your free Healthy Gut Meal Plan complete with recipes and shopping list by clicking right here!
