Eat Phytochemicals To Avoid Sugar Cravings
One of the ways I avoid sugar cravings is to eat “clean” whole food, mostly cooked at home, and mostly in season. This not only helps me avoid sugar cravings, but also helps me stay healthy by getting the benefits of phytonutrient variety in my diet.
You’ve heard me, and other health experts say “Food is Medicine”, and it actually is when you think about it. Plants contain phytochemicals to keep them safe and healthy. Phytonutrients are one type of phytochemical that are related to the color and aroma of the plant. There are tens of thousands of phytonutrients, such as carotenoids and flavonoids, each offering its own benefits to the plant, and to our bodies when consumed. Every substance we eat or drink is sending pharmacological signals and messages to our cells. Food is not only medicine, but information to our cells, telling them what to do and how to react. These chemicals not only send messages to the cells in our gut, which we normally think of when eating, but throughout our body.
This nutritious lentil soup recipe contains some healthy phytonutrients you might like to try.
Lentil Soup with Eggplant
Ingredients
10 cups of water
1 medium eggplant
1 cup quinoa
3 carrots, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 celery stalks, chopped
4 whole lemons, freshly squeezed
2 tsp of turmeric spice
Red pepper spice (to taste)
White pepper spice (to taste)
Sea salt (optional)
Olive oil (optional)
Directions
1 Preheat oven to 350 °F.
2 Slice whole eggplant into strips and bake for approximately 20 minutes.
3 Optional: Before baking, you may brush eggplant strips with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. After cooked, set to the side to cool. Cool down and purée in blender. Set aside.
4 In a separate pan sauté onion, carrots, and celery until tender.
5 Add garlic, turmeric, red pepper, white pepper, and cook for approximately 3 minutes.
6 Add lentils, quinoa, water, and fresh ginger. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer for approximately 45 minutes.
7 Add puréed eggplant to your soup.
8 Top off with fresh squeezed lemon to taste.
Help yourself and your family stay healthy with food as medicine.