There’s something about the chillier weather months that get’s me re-energized to park it in the kitchen and cook up something comforting and warm. In the same vein, there’s nothing quite like a savory soup to just HIT THE SPOT; introducing a Spicy Autumn Sweet Potato Soup. This soup is comforting, filling, and packed with vegetables. Oh, did I mention… this soup can help CURB PMS SYMPTOMS – keep reading to learn how.
Low key, this Sweet Potato soup actually a PMS supporting soup but your partner doesn’t need to know that, because regardless it’s delicious, and no, it won’t make them grow boobs! My current wellness obsession that i’ve been studying is around eating for healthy hormones with the help of Alisa Vitti’s Woman Code book and the Happy Hormone cookbook. I’ve learned that hormones control SO much of our overall health and wellness. For women, they drive our energy levels. Understanding our hormones empowers us to make lifestyle choices to optimize our energy, weight, exercise, mental and general health throughout our 4 different hormone cycles. Guys don’t have these cycles… they feel the same everyday. The more I learn, the more I realize that are MAGIC FARIES NOT TO BE MESSED WITH. That is science.
Autumn Spicy Sweet Potato Soup (aka PMS soup)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- ½ yellow onion chopped
- ½ jalapeno chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger freshly grated
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 large sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
- 1 large zucchini chopped
- 3 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons coriander
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne optional (omit if you don't love SPICE)
- 1 28-oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 15-oz can light coconut milk
- 1 15-oz can chickpeas
- 2 cups chopped kale leaves
- 1/2 fresh lemon juiced
- 1 pinch Madon sea salt to garnish
Instructions
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Heat the avocado oil in a large soup pot on medium-high heat. Saute the onion until soft & translucent (4-5 minutes)
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Add the jalapeno, ginger, and garlic and cook another 2 minutes until the ingredients are well mixed and a little sweaty.
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Add the sweet potato, zucchini, cumin, coriander, sea salt, turmeric, paprika and cayenne. Mix well and cook for about 5 minutes.
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Add the canned tomatoes (juice and all from the can) and coconut milk.
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Bring the soup to a low boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 40 minutes (until the sweet potatoes are fork tender).
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Add the chickpeas and cook for another 5 minutes.
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Remove the soup from heat and add the kale and lemon juice.
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Serve the soup with a big scoop of brown rice, barley, millet, or whatever rice you like! Top it with some Maldon sea salt. I also love to serve with with a yummy slice of whole grain sourdough bread
Recipe Notes
Recipe credit from the cookbook mentioned above: The Happy Hormone Guide
How does this sweet potato soup support and manage PMS?
- The root vegetables help curb sugar cravings (if you’re feeling them #sweaterweather) due to their high amounts of B-vitamins which help manufacture progesterone.
- The leafy greens help the liver flush out excess estrogen.
- The sweet potatoes and brown rice are rich in B-vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and fibre
Bonus! Other tips to reduce symptoms of PMS:
- Dandelion tea, fennel tea, and licorice tea help the kidneys flush out excess water to relieve bloat. Here’s one of my favorite with dandelion and licorice – it’s tasty with no licorice flavor
- Reduce alcohol, sugar, and caffeine at this time to decrease inflammation
- Fibre rich fruits are your friend to help with healthy estrogen detox (ever have sore boobs at PMS time? It’s because your body isn’t flushing the excess estrogen so fibre up, lady!)
- Nurture your gut microbiome – learn how from my post on that here.
- Sesame seeds and sunflower seeds support progesterone levels, ease cramps, reduce PMS related inflammation, and support healthy poops!
- Avoid hormone disrupters in toxic beauty products – chose clean products! This puts more stress on your detox system and it needs all the help it can get. More on that here including some of my favorite products.
- Keep stress at a minimum – read my tips on that here and here.
Check out the books mentioned above for more little tips and tricks to incorporate. Their books are comprehensive so i’ve just shared my 30,000 foot learnings that have seemed to work for me!
Have tips? Questions? Leave a comment below.
In good health,
Jess
