Digestive problems are among the top complaints I see as a Chinese medicine practitioner. In Chinese medicine, we call digestive weakness, Spleen qi deficiency. Poor digestion can arise from eating too many raw and cold/frozen foods (i.e. ice cream, smoothies, salads). When eating cold/raw foods, your digestive system has to work extra hard to heat up the food to a 100 degree "soup" in order to digest and assimilate these foods. Over time, this extra work exhausts the digestive system and can lead to a number of digestive problems.
Symptoms of Spleen qi deficiency include: bloating and/or fatigue after eating, loose stools, difficulty digesting foods, food intolerances, poor or erratic appetite, worry/overthinking, and heaviness or weakness in the limbs.
This tummy-loving soup is super nourishing for the spleen/pancreas and stomach, and it is easy to digest. It is the perfect meal to improve your bowels and get rid of that uncomfortable bloated belly. Turkey and carrots strengthen Spleen qi; fennel is wonderful for treating digestive complaints including flatulence, bloating, indigestion, poor appetite and vomiting; and sweet potatoes strengthen your digestion and improve bowel movements.
Ingredients:
4 stalks celery, diced
1 sweet onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 sweet potatoes, diced
1 TBSP avocado oil
8 cups organic chicken bone broth
1 lb. organic ground turkey
3/4 tsp himalayan salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp dried ginger
1 tsp fennel seed, crushed
Directions:
Heat soup pot on high heat. Add 1 TBSP avocado oil. Once hot, add celery, carrots, onions and garlic. Cook for 3 minutes until onions become translucent. Add 8 cups bone broth, sweet potatoes, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp fennel, pepper, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder and ginger powder. Turn heat on high and once the soup starts to boil, turn on low heat and cook for 20 minutes. While cooking, add turkey to a heated pan. Add 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp crushed fennel. Cook until browned. Drain the turkey and set aside. Once soup is done, stir in the ground turkey and serve.
