(Reprinted with permission from The Key West Citizen’s Health File, July 2010)
This summer, eat a “cooling” soup for better health
By Ashley Hoyt
Special to The Citizen
Soup is a part of every culture’s diet. You find it around the world throughout any season.
According to Chinese medicine, all soups have different healing properties and are used to support treatment for certain conditions.
For example, some foods have warming properties and some have cooling properties. In our Key West climate, eating cooling foods can help us adapt to the heat of summer and nourishes the body with fluids. Examples of some cooling foods are green leafy vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, celery, asparagus, sprouts, yogurt, apples, bananas, pears and watermelon.
Below is a light, refreshing recipe for a summer soup. It has the ability to balance the body’s hydration levels and combat the affects of the hot, humid summer. Enjoy!
Ashley Hoyt, A.P., practices at the Clinic of Alternative Medicine in Key West. The phone number is 305-296-5358. Visit www.keywestacupuncture.com for more information.
Jade Green Soup
1/2 C tofu
2 C leafy greens chopped
1/4 t. sea salt
1/2 t. toasted sesame oil
3 C broth
1/2 T arrowroot dissolved in 2 T of water
*Sauté or steam tofu 5 minutes. Add salt.
*Add greens. Sauté 2 minutes
*Add broth and simmer until greens are bright-colored
*Add arrowroot and water mixture and simmer until thickened.
*Serves 3-4
