Healthy Soups

This soup is full of immune-boosting ingredients; carrots are rich in carotenoids that can be converted to vitamin A, which is needed for optimal immune system strength; fresh orange juice is a decent source of natural vitamin C, good for overall immune system support; and just a little ginger provides a number of health benefits, including protection against cancer.

If you're a fan of curried dishes and stews, you'll definitely want to give this recipe a try. It's more Moroccan than Indian in flavor and texture (that's what I'm told by the friend who shared it with me), and it's as healthy as curried dishes come.

If you give this butternut squash soup recipe a try, you're in for a pleasant surprise. The secret ingredient is fresh pear - who would have thought that pears and squash go together so well?

Rich in vitamin C and carotenoids, this soup is an excellent choice for giving your immune system a lift. It's also rich in a phytonutrient (beta-cryptoxanthin) that is thought to be particularly good for promoting healthy lungs.

Most of us have our favorite childhood dishes. One that stands out for me is my mom's moo gook - a traditional Korean soup that's made with white radish.

White radish, called "moo" in Korean, is sometimes called daikon or Chinese white radish, and in Indian cuisine, it's called "mooli." If you can't find white radish at your local grocery store, try visiting a local Asian food store - most carry multiple varieties.

Here's a nourishing lentil soup that's made unique by adding small amounts of potato and barley. It doesn't call for a lot of potato or barley - just enough to make this soup a substantial meal in a bowl.

This red lentil and vegetable soup is rich in healthy protein, fiber, iron, and folate, making it a nourishing and filling soup for all, but especially for those who are pregnant or nursing.

If you're looking to eat healthfully on a tight budget, frozen green peas are an excellent choice. Fresh green peas are frozen shortly after being harvested, so they're almost as nutritious frozen as they are fresh.

Green peas are abundant in healthy protein, vitamin C, vitamin K1, folate, and a number of B vitamins. Their rich folate and vitamin B content make green peas a smart choice for keeping your blood homocysteine level in a healthy range, which is essential to decreasing your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

This roasted cauliflower soup is surprisingly rich in vitamin C. It's also rich in indole-3-carbinole, a phytonutrient that can stimulate cellular detoxification.

Indole-3-carbinole's ability to prevent estrogen dominance is what makes cauliflower - naturally rich in indole-3-carbinole - an excellent food choice for cancer prevention, particularly breast cancer prevention.

A simple and effective way to lower your risk of developing cancer is to eat cabbage on a regular basis.

Cabbage belongs to the Cruciferous family of vegetables - other prominent Cruciferous vegetables include kale, Bok Choy, cauliflower, and broccoli.

Phytonutrients found in cabbage and other Cruciferous vegetables can stimulate the production of enzymes that can detoxify your cells, leading to efficient elimination of free radicals, toxins, and potential carcinogens from your body.

Koreans have long enjoyed the health benefits of seaweed soup, called mi-yuk gook.

In Korean culture, seaweed soup is considered a must for pregnant and nursing women, as eating seaweed is an effective way of stimulating healthy breast milk production.