Miso, Pumpkin & White Bean Soup

Serves 6

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 butternut pumpkin, cooked & pureed
½ cup cooked white beans
2 cups vegetable stock
1 cup of water
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of white pepper
1 cup plain soy milk (can omit if necessary)
3 table spoons White Miso
Handful of baby spinach leaves
¼ cup fresh basil leaves

1. In a medium pot, heat oil and sauté onion and garlic for 2 minutes. Add pumpkin purée, stock, water, cayenne pepper, and white pepper.

2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook for 5 minutes. Add soy milk and miso; cook for 1 minute more (do not boil).

3. Transfer soup to a food processor and purée until smooth. Add basil and purée for 30 seconds.

4. Add white beans & spinach

5. Adjust seasonings to taste. Serve hot. Add cooked white beans and a handful of baby spinach leaves just before serving.

Enjoy!

Candida, Diet and the Hormone Connection

Candida, diet and lifestyle habits all trigger hormonal changes in women that are linked to weight gain, especially around the middle.

This fat can be difficult to budge, often leaving you feeling not only tired and bloated, but frustrated and depleted.

One of the main hormes at play is estrogen. Estrogen excess can be caused by hormone disruptors - (industrial chemicals found in cleaning products, foods and make up).

Estrogen excess can trigger candida outbreaks, which not only cause digestive disturbances, but are one of the leading causes of hormonal imbalance within women.

Studies Show that...

A comparative study found a trend toward higher faecal levels of Lactobacillus sp in pre-menopausal women, whilst post-menopausal women showed higher levels of fungi and yeast. The most concerning trend was found in breast cancer patients, found to have higher levels of E. coli, Bacteroide sp. and Clostridium sp., than both pre- and post-menopausal controls.¹

Thrush is a common condition...

An estimated 75% of all women will develop a yeast infection during their lifetime and 90% of these infections are caused by Candida albicans. Three main theories exist for recurrent thrush:

• Chronic systemic infection & hormone imbalance
  
• Reinfection from a sexual partner
• Poor immune system

Estrogen, HRT, and Brith Control ...?

Does estrogen, HRT and the birth control pill trigger thrush? Yes, researchers find that oestrogen stimulates mature epithelial cells lining the vagina to produce glycogen - a favourable substrate for the growth and promotion of C. albicans.³

The great news is, if you are suffering from thrush, or the symptoms of thrush, we can help.

To read about the symptoms of thrush or for more information, click here

References

1. Perisic DV, Dokic M, Kovacevic G. The role of prebiotics and probiotics in female health. Arch Gastroenterohepatol 2003; 22(3-4) 79-83.
2. Nirjesy P. Chronic Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. Am Fam Physician. 2001;63(4): 697-702.
3. Dennerstein GJ, Ellis DH. Oestrogen, glycogen and vaginal candidiasis. Aus N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2001; 41(3): 326-8.

Lima Been Mash For Healthy Hormone Balance

It doesn’t take much to make lima beans into something special. Puréed and used with a casserole it makes a healthy alternative to regular mashed spud. If you like simply
substitute cooked fresh red lentils or fava, navy, or cannellini beans for the limas.

2 cups fresh shelled or frozen baby lima beans
2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
Salt
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 lemon
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup water
salt
1. Combine lima beans, garlic, 1⁄2 cup water and a generous pinch of salt in a small pot.
Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until beans are
very soft, about 15 minutes.

2. Coarsely purée beans and garlic in a food processor. Transfer to a small bowl and
gradually beat in olive oil. Remove zest from lemon with a zester or vegetable peeler, then
finely julienne zest and set aside. Halve lemon and add lemon juice to purée to taste, then
season with salt and pepper. Serve with your normal vegetables or in a small bowl with
toasted bread on the side.

Enjoy!