Perfect for COVID-19 and Cold Winter Nights
The need to enhance our immune function increases this winter as we face being indoors more and are subjected to increased exposure to Sars CoV 2, influenza, and the rhinovirus. Thus, it’s important to integrate immune-boosting foods, herbs, and nutrients into our diets. There is significant scientific research on boosting Vitamin D and if you haven’t yet heard about the use of Adrenal and Thymus glandulars, these both support resilience and your ability to fight infection. Get some sunlight daily, (no need for sunglasses- let the light regulate your brain rhythms), and remember to finish your bath and shower with cold water to wake up your immune response.
Following that cold shower enjoy this simple soup to get an easy start on your self-care. This soup boosts your immune system to prevent illness and reduce the stress that makes us vulnerable to illness. If you don’t yet know the joys and benefits of astragalus, visit an Asian grocery store or Chinese herbal clinic and purchase some fresh or dried astragalus root to add to a soup. Be sure to remove it before eating the soup.
Ingredients
SERVES 4
- 6 cups freshly made chicken (or vegetable) broth
- 1⁄4 cup astragalus root
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 sweet potato, diced
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 thumb fresh ginger
- Handful of reishi or shiitake mushrooms
- Handful of fresh chopped parsley
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Directions
Add all ingredients, except the mushrooms and parsley, to the broth and gently simmer for 20 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms and simmer for 10 more minutes. Remove the ginger and astragalus. Serve the soup in a bowl and top with raw parsley.
Enjoy! Are you looking for more immune-boosting tips during COVID? Check out my course Nutritional and Integrative Tips During COVID-19 for much more. Stay tuned for my upcoming COVID-19 Special Report that covers COVID PTSD and recipes for immunity, among others.
She served as a Fulbright scholar on traditional medicine, a Clinical Fellow at Harvard Medical School, and a National Institutes of Health-funded research scientist in mind/body medicine.
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