Page 55 - Spring2012

Growing Wise Kids

SouP-SteNaNce
Recipes to Warm Your Soul
By Jen allbritton, cN

Soup is the quintessential comfort food, one of the most potent medicines for reversing
maybe partly because it helps “worries go down and preventing tooth decay and recommends
better,” according to a Yiddish proverb. But one to two cups each day in his Balanced Tooth
best of all, soups are deeply nourishing. They Decay and Remineralization Program. And Na-
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are also a simple way to add numerous nutritive gel reminds us that Dr. Price himself prescribed
vegetables to the menu. Any season of the year daily beef or fish stews as part of his tooth decay
is the perfect time to ladle out a mug of sweet control protocol.
butternut bisque, a hardy hamburger medley, Gelatin is another superstar found in this
or an elegant, yet simple, egg drop soup. And traditional tonic. Although not a complete protein
anyone can make a satisfying, slurpable soup- itself, gelatin allows the body to more fully utilize
based meal using the following basic formula proteins from other foods, which helps explain
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and a little know-how. why gelatin-dense stocks are such a vital part of
European kitchen traditions, like gravies, stews,
SOUP AND ALL THAT IMPLIES and soups. Gelatin also has a solid reputation for
Soups can be separated into two main calming an irritated digestive tract and aiding
groups: clear and thick. “Stew” is often used digestion, as well as relieving peptic ulcers,
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interchangeably with “soup,” with the main infections, and even helping overcome cancer. 6
difference being soups contain more liquid The amino acid glycine, found in gelatin, specifi-
and stews are chunkier. Thick soups are often cally improves digestion by enhancing gastric
further defined by the chosen thickening agent: acid secretion. In fact, research published in
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purées are thickened with starch, bisques often 1982 in the American Journal of Physiology
use puréed vegetables and shellfish, and cream found that this substance promoted digestion by
soups are often thickened with a roux (blend of boosting the secretion of gastric juice, bringing
a liquid, flour and butter), cream, rice, tubers, or the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach
grains. to normal levels. This is excellent news for those
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suffering from intestinal conditions, including
HOMEMADE BONE BROTH BASE indigestion. It is now understood that most often
Bone broths made from chicken, fish or beef indigestion is actually a result of too little acid. 10
bones are a staple of the traditional food way of Furthermore, the ability to secrete gastric acid
life. The storehouse of nutrients liberated from naturally decreases with age, which is another
bone and connective tissues accelerates overall reason why broth on the daily menu is a special
healing and supports our own bones, as well as boon to mature diners. Stomach acid is neces-
teeth, joints, digestion and immunity. Properly sary for many functions, particularly digesting
prepared broth contains a generous amount of a protein. Adequate acidity of the stomach is
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wide range of minerals, such as calcium, mag- also critical for the absorption of many nutri- Properly
nesium, phosphorus and silica. Think of it as ents, such as calcium, folic acid, B vitamins and prepared
the ultimate multi-mineral “supplement.” Since magnesium.
these naturally derived minerals are extracted Also rendered from cartilage and tendons bone broth is
from bone, they are in an ideal balance and easily are chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine, the ultimate
utilized by the body. nutrients with a stellar reputation for soothing multi-mineral
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Ramiel Nagel, author of the excellent book arthritis and joint pain. Consuming “bone soup”
Cure Tooth Decay, asserts homemade broth is every day will help tremendously in the repair "supplement."
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