Anti-inflammatory

Roasted sweet potato, red pepper and tomato soup with oregano and paprika




Slight variation on a soup I posted earlier but I promise you this won't disappoint...possibly my favourite soup so far...and full of so many skin healing foods. 

This time I left out the onion(may try it next time) but added some juicy tomatoes, a sprinkle of oregano and a healthy covering of paprika..so yummy and it fills the kitchen with the most amazing aroma!!!!


I love this soup because...it contains the super anti-inflammatory foods...sweet potatoes and red bell peppers. Both ingredients contain beta-carotene which is known to have anti-inflammatory properties which is perfect for any skin condition or inflammatory disease.

I read somewhere that if you have a skin disorder then you will generally have a digestive problem; but not the other way around. Our digestive system makes up approx 80% of our immune system and if aggravated or put under stress; through lifestyle or dietary choices our body can react in a variety of ways; gas, bloating, muscle pain, skin disorders, insomnia, constipation and many more.

To counter-act these affects we need to cleanse our body of toxins by replacing highly processed foods full of refined sugar, table salt and man-made chemicals with clean whole fresh foods that are appropriate to your individual body. Using these nutrient filled foods we can start to heal our bodies from within...and inadvertently our skin!! Yey! 

Love your body and it will love you back!

Sorry I've waffled, here's the recipe..... ;)


Ingredients

3/4 garlic cloves (less or more depending on personal preference), chopped
3 x sweet potatoes
2 x red bell peppers, diced
whole packet of on the vine cherry tomatoes cut into quarters
600 ml of organic vegetable stock
Himalayan pink crystal salt
paprika powder
oregano powder

Toppings
chia seeds
pumpkin seeds
sunflower seeds

How to:

. season the potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper
. roast in the oven until they start to soften

. add the peppers and tomatoes and drizzle with more olive oil 
. finely chop the garlic and add to the mixture
. sprinkle with oregano and put back in the oven for approx 15 mins or until all ingredients soften slightly (careful not to overcook)

. place the roasted mix into the processor and pour in some of the vegetable stock
. Blend until smooth consistency
. Keep adding the vegetable stock until preferred consistency

The soup was warm enough for me and I didn't want to heat it in case I destroyed more of the vital nutrients in the vegetables. If you prefer your soup hot...reheat on the stove to your desired 
ttemperature

Finishing touches:

. Pour the soup into a bowl and season with ground black pepper
. sprinkle on the chia, pumpkin, and sunflowers seeds
. store the remaining soup in the fridge or freezer to enjoy at a  later date




Skin Health Benefits

Garlic
. vit c
. selenium
. vit B6
. antioxidant
. anti-inflammatory, immune boosting, natural antibiotic, regulates blood sugar levels
. natural prebiotic
. antibacterial
. antimicrobial
. antifungal
. anti-parasitic

sweet potatoes/ red bell peppers
. beta carotene
. vit b6
. vit c
. vit d
. iron
. magnesium
. antioxidant
. vit a
. potassium

Pumpkin seeds 
. zinc 
. essential fatty acids 

chia seeds
. fibre
. high source of protein.
. calcium
. magnesium
. antioxidants
. omega 3-fatty acids
. manganese
. phosphorus

* zinc - hormone balancing, regulates sebum production, aids with wound healing
* beta carotene - (plant form of vitamin A) - anti-inflammatory, form of fat soluble antioxidant(protection the collagen producing layer of your skin)
* antioxidants -  protection against free radical damage
* selenium  - long term skin health - potent antioxidant - anti-inflammatory
* essential fatty acids - helps the body produce its own anti-inflammatory compounds
* vitamin C - helps with production of collagen
* sulpher - important for long term structure and ageing of the skin
* prebiotic - good bacteria found in your gut. Prebiotic feeds another set of beneficial bacteria called 'probiotics'; keeping these two 'biotics' in balance helps maintain the natural gut flora in your intestine...essential for a healthy immune system
* phosphorus - for healthy bones and teeth
* manganese - good for bone health 



Let me know how you get on by posting your comments below...