Food For Brains: Tis The Season For Roasted Carrot Soup

‘Tis the season for soups! Roasting vegetables makes a world of difference, and so here’s an incredibly simple and wonderfully hearty roasted carrot soup, with a swirl of beetroot juice. I’ve added ginger and turmeric, both optional in this recipe, but so good to include in your daily diet, especially at this time of year. I try to add them to everything, from juices to soups and curries. The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger and turmeric make them a great remedy for muscle and arthritic pain, for digestion and for colds.4 carrots1 onion2 cloves garlic600ml water½ teaspoon Himalayan salt1 teaspoon grated ginger¼ teaspoon turmeric½ cup fresh beetroot juicePreheat the oven on 150C. Chop the carrots into small pieces and slice the onions, cover with some melted coconut oil, just enough to grease them. Then place carrots, onions and the peeled garlic cloves in the oven for around 20-30 minutes. Once cooked, place in a nutribullet or high speed blender, add water, salt and grated ginger and blend. Boil in a pan, adding more salt if required as well as the turmeric. Pour a swirl of beetroot juice when serving.

Brain Energy Tip

Turmeric is a member of the ginger family and can be used whole but is most commonly sold as a ground spice which resembles a fine mustard powder.This antioxidant and powerful anti-inflammatory is used regularly to season food in India where researchers found that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s is 25 percent lower than in the U.S. In lab studies, mice that were fed curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) developed fewer amyloid plaques, associated with Alzheimer’s, than rats that weren’t.More recent research published in Stem Cell Research and Therapy suggests it may boost your brain proliferation or its power to repair itself!We all know the ginger root for its capacity to reduce nausea and pain reducing properties. However, recent research continues to demonstrate it’s brain boosting properties and potential to protect against cognitive disease. Ginger also has a sialagogue action, stimulating the production of saliva, which makes swallowing easier.Carrots are known to be the go to food for good eye sight. However, they provide great benefits for the brain too. According to a study published in 2010 in the journal Nutrition the high levels of luteolin found in carrots could reduce age-related memory impairment and inflammation in the brain.