MOTHER'S DAY: GREEN GODDESS SOUP & ALIGNING WITH MOTHER NATURE'S WISDOM

GREEN GODDESS SOUP  - RECIPE BELOW
GREEN GODDESS VEGAN SOUP
Spring is the perfect time to refresh the physical body, our habits and our hOMes (within and throughout Mother Earth). It's a time to reset our spiritual and emotional heart felt intentions towards leading a more healthful, happy life and pursing our life's mission, nurturing what our Divine MOTHER gave us: life, as resident of planet earth. 
Cleansing our hOMe first -  by detoxing from what we no longer need, or from what is stored in the body to protect us from harm, is essential for our bodies to maintain  optimal functioning. The body is set to do so in spring. Just as we check the soil, fertilize it with natural minerals and nutrients, we should also check our own gut/soil/micro-biome health. Fresh greens and clearer warmer days move us outside and encourage us too eat better. We can make wiser choices, because we are less isolated, out and about, in gardens and in community. We become more attuned with nature and the body longs to stay (or get) in sync by first trying to balance the bacteria within us, especially ridding the system of systemic yeast overgrowth. Cleansing with a no sugar, no starchy carb or grain diet is key. 
Candida Albicans overgrowth can be systemic, as the yeast, fed by a diet high in sugars it craves, creates webs of biofilm that can grasp onto and entrap organs, create bloating, fatigue, and headaches among other more severe symptoms. 
 There are various ways to detox: a short-term fast, juicing, consuming strictly raw foods or merely focusing on functional foods (healthful, non-inflammatory foods that heal instead of harm whether raw, vegan, vegetarian, or paleo...). Regardless of how we decide to approach a detox, a crucial piece is ensuring our elimination pathways are functioning at an optimal level. How are your liver and kidneys coping, and how is your essential nutrient and cofactor creation, assimilation and utilization which these organs need to help cleanse toxins regularly and more intensely out of the body during a seasonal cleanse.
We must ask ourselves:
  1. Do I have regular bowel movements daily?
  2. Am I urinating 4-8 times per day?
  3. How often do I sweat?
  4. Am I conscious of taking deep breaths throughout my day?
  5. Is my main detox organ up for a detox challenge?
  6. Do I know the best tools to encourage lymphatic drainage?
  7. And last but not least, is my mind ready for an “out with the old, in with the new” experience?

Gastrointestinal Health
Ensuring you are having regular bowel movements is a good place to begin. Supporting good bowel health can be achieved by healthy hydration, along with good amounts of whole foods and fiber in your diet. Avoid stimulating laxatives (senna, aloe or bisacodyl), and seek out more bulk-forming laxatives, like agar, psyllium, kelp and plant gum in a more natural, supportive approach. Magnesium in the forms of magnesium citrate, malate or glycinate can also help encourage regularity.
Genitourinary Health
Hydrating an adequate amount throughout the day is crucial in supporting your body in eliminating toxins. The main rule of thumb is consuming at least half your bodyweight in fluid ounces; however, if you are active and sweating, that demand can triple.
Skin
Skin is the body’s largest organ, and along with protecting us from outside pathogens, our skin eliminates toxins through sweat. There are great activities that encourage sweating, such as exercise, steam rooms, saunas and detox baths. Be sure to shower after sweating to prevent reabsorption of toxicants.
Breath
We often forget that exhalation is a form of release. We inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide to maintain internal balance. We also use our breath to release emotional, toxic build-up. When our breath becomes choppy and shallow, we hold onto emotional toxins and retain more tension. By creating awareness of our breath and maintaining smooth, deep, rhythmic breaths in and out, we are more capable of letting go.
  • Check out the free smartphone app, “GPS for the Soul,” for tips on how to seek and maintain balance in breathwork
Liver Health
The detox organ, the liver, must be up to the challenge for a successful detoxification experience. It is here that the vast majority of substances are broken down to then be eliminated by the body. Avoid liver-offending substances, such as alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, sugar and other medications. Supplement your diet with liver-supportive substances and foods, such as milk thistle, artichoke, turmeric, omega-3s, garlic, avocado, lemon, beets and green tea, to name a few.
Lymphatic System
Your lymphatic system is designed to gather toxic substances from the tissue and return them to circulation to then be eliminated. Exercise is a great way to increase circulation and encourage lymphatic movement. Lymphatic massage is also a passive technique to optimize this elimination pathway. One can also use these DIY home remedies to encourage lymphatic drainage:
  • Castor oil packs applied to the abdomen encourage circulation and movement of blood and lymph.
  • Skin brushing is also an easy technique to encourage lymphatic drainage. Remember to always administer brushing on dry skin, and brush from the extremities toward the heart.
Mind, Heart and Spirit
A mental, emotional and spiritual detox can also accompany a physical one. Often, the two can have a complimentary effect. Cleaning out your mind translates into a cleaner life and vice versa.

Green Goddess Soup {Vegan}
Posted by Angela Russell On December 10, 2012 0 Comment
Mmm…soup.  Good for the body and the soul.  This creamy vegetable soup is thick, tart and super satisfying, thanks to the brown rice.  It reminds me a bit of Panera Bread’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup…without all of the junk.  It has EIGHT organic vegetables in it, it’s vegan and all-natural.  As you can tell, I’m pretty excited to have discovered it, and recommend you make it if you are:
·       …vegan or vegetarian
·       …a vegetable lover
·       …lactose intolerant
·       …on a weight-loss plan
·       …need a way to get in more veggies
·       …need a way to make veggies taste good
·       …wanting a good lunch to bring to work all week
·       …in love with cream of broccoli soup

Green Goddess Soup
Makes about 8-10 servings
Ingredients:
2 c leeks
2 c broccoli
2 c asparagus
2 c zucchini
2 c celery
2 c kale, stems removed
2 T parsley (minced)
2 cloves (1 T) garlic (minced)
1/2 c organic brown rice  – I used Jasmine
3 T olive oil
2-3 teaspoons sea salt
Black pepper
1-2 T fresh squeezed lemon juice
Water
Directions:
Step 1 – prep the veg: The first step is to wash and prep the veggies.   Chop all of the veggies (besides garlic and parsley) into bite sized pieces BEFORE measuring it. Mince the garlic and parsley.  Here’s what mine looked like all prepped:
Directions:
Step 1 – prep the veg: The first step is to wash and prep the veggies.   Chop all of the veggies (besides garlic and parsley) into bite sized pieces BEFORE measuring it. Mince the garlic and parsley.  Here’s what mine looked like all prepped:
 Step 3 – water + simmer:  Add water – about 4-5 cups to start – enough to cover the veggies by a couple of inches (they will float up).  Cover the pot and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 4 – thicken + season:  Mix in the uncooked brown rice, minced garlic and parsley. Bring to a boil and then return to low. Simmer for another 20-30 minutes or until rice is soft (taste test it!).
Step 5 – give it a lemony blend:  Add in the 1-2 T lemon (I went with 2). Stick in the immersion blender (or, blend in a blender) and whiz away until you reach desired consistency. Add more water if you want to thin it out.  Taste and season/adjust with more salt, pepper, lemon.  You can let it simmer for a few more minutes if you’d like, but it’s done.
This was really tasty with 2 teaspoons of Parmesan-Romano and a bit of Sriracha stirred in at the end.  I had 2.5 bowls for dinner tonight.  Enjoy!
.

Comments

Unknown said…
Wow you have share here such a nice blog on yoga and healthy green soup it looks really very delightful for health and fitness. Thanks for sharing here with us.I want to share an informative thing about cellulites.Today cellulite is a big problem and people are finding that how to remove cellulite . Cellulite Burned is one of the best way to get the complete solution if you were suffering from this problem.

Popular Posts