Healthy Soups

If keeping your heart healthy is a top priority, consider adding lentils to your diet. Lentils are inexpensive legumes that come in a variety of colors, and every color is good for your heart and overall health.

Lentils are rich in folate, a vitamin that is essential to keeping your blood homocysteine at a healthy level - this is likely the main reason why eating lentils on a regular basis can keep your cardiovascular system healthy as you age.

If you want to significantly lower your risk of developing cancer, consider eating cabbage at least a few times a week. Cabbage belongs to the Cruciferous family of vegetables - other vegetables that belong in this family include broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collards, Brussels sprouts, Bok Choy, watercress, and arugula.

Phytonutrients found in cabbage and other Cruciferous vegetables stimulate your genes to increase production of enzymes that detoxify your cells, resulting in elimination of free radicals, toxins, and potential carcinogens from your body.

When eaten together, carrots and avocado provide a combination of nutrients that can strengthen your immune system and support your vision.

The carotenoids in carrots and healthy fat in avocado can contribute to healthy vitamin A status, and vitamin A serves your immune system in the following ways:

1. Vitamin A and its metabolites help to maintain the structure and function of your skin and the mucosal cells that line your respiratory tract, digestive tract, and urinary tract; your skin and mucosal linings are barriers that act as your body's first line of defense against harmful microbes and substances.

2. Vitamin A plays an important role in the development and differentiation of your white blood cells, which play essential roles in your immune system.

Earlier this month, I shared a Sweet Potato and Pecan Salad with Lime Recipe on this blog that generated several enthusiastic reviews. One appreciative reader even left a phone message of thanks for that recipe! Among the reviews were several requests for more recipes that call for sweet potatoes.

I hope that this recipe for homestyle sweet potato soup is appreciated as much as the last sweet potato recipe was. It's one of the first healthy recipes that I shared on this site, and it remains one of our family's favorite healthy soups.

In Japan, expensive varieties of mushroom like maitake and matsutake have long been thought to contain more health-promoting nutrients than the humble white mushroom. A new study, conducted by a government research institution in France, indicates that the white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) has at least as much antioxidant power as more expensive varieties like maitake and matsutake.

White button mushrooms are the youngest form of Agaricus bisporus. If left to grow, white button mushrooms turn into Crimini mushrooms. When Crimini mushrooms are left to grow another 2-3 days, they turn into Portobello mushrooms.

Naturally produced miso, also known as fermented soy bean paste, is an excellent source of healthy protein and friendly bacteria.

You can find Korean miso - called den jang - at your local Korean grocery store. If you don't have a Korean market in your area, you can use a Japanese version of miso, found at any Asian food market or your local health food store.

Not sure what to do with a batch of green tomatoes that the cool fall season just isn't going to allow to turn red? Try combining them with some red tomatoes from the market, along with some fresh corn kernels, to make this delicious green and red tomato soup.

The quantities listed in the ingredients section produce approximately 6-8 small bowls of soup.

Green peas are full of many health-promoting nutrients, the most abundant one being vitamin K1, which is needed for optimal bone mineralization. Green peas are also abundant in folate, manganese, dietary fiber, vitamin B1, beta-carotene, and vitamin C.

This delicious and healthy roasted tomato soup with fresh basil is best served with a green salad and a slice or two of toasted, multi-grain bread.

The quantities listed in the ingredients section are meant to produce 4 large servings.

Cilantro is one of the most phytonutrient-dense herbs that we know of. Regular consumption of this aromatic plant may be helpful in regulating blood sugar levels, reducing inflammation, and preventing urinary tract infections.

Enjoy the many health benefits of cilantro with this simple and delicious recipe for spinach cilantro soup.