The importance of flavor for digestive health

Digestion is an interplay between your body and your food.  The food you eat directly impacts your digestive health. This means that every bite is an opportunity to heal, protect, and support digestion.  

Wonderful digestion is the centerpiece of health.  Healthy digestion makes you feel lighter, boosts immunity, reduces inflammation, improves metabolism, and gives you more energy.  Promoting healthy digestion is at the center of jolie.
What can we add to our nourishment to support digestion? Adding flavor with herbs, spices, and ingredient diversity is an easy boost to digestive health. It won’t require will power, taking anything out, or deprivation.  Even for the non-cook, small adds can make a profound difference without overcomplicating meal preparation.

For complete beginners: add a squeeze of lemon and a little chopped parsley.  Both will improve digestive enzymes and settle your stomach. For many, digestive issues can be resolved at the start by making sure food is able to be broken down properly. For extra credit, try not to drink too much during your meals - hydrate 30 minutes before or after your meal.
Ready to take it a bit farther: add a light sprinkle of the jolie Digestive Spice blend or make your own by blending cumin, cardamom, coriander, and ginger to your desired flavor profile. Sprinkle this on anything - it will not dramatically alter the core flavor of your dish.  Use no more than ¼ teaspoon per four person serving if you would like only the benefits and not the flavor. These medicinal spices help heal your stomach and gut. They have been used for centuries to balance digestive enzymes, heal gut lining, and reduce bloating.

Variety is another important aspect of digestive health.  When I plan the weekly menu for the jolieLife meal delivery, I am looking to address the six tastes that are central to Ayurveda.  This is an ancient way of eating that balances your digestion and hormones while ensuring nutritional depth. As a benefit, you can eat less and feel more satisfied for longer.  

You can use the six tastes and apply them using foods from the farmer’s market or supermarket. Ideally in each meal you want the six tastes represented.  I aim for four or more.

Here is a list of the six tastes and examples of what foods provide them:
Sweet - carrots, sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, sautéed onions
Sour - lemon, vinegar, grapefruit, berries
Salty - sea salt, olives, miso, seaweed, nori (these also improve hormone balance)
Bitter - kale, brussels sprouts, green tea, sprouts, cacao, coffee, turmeric, radishes, arugula
Pungent - onions, garlic, chilies, mustard, ginger
Astringent - all tea, chickpeas, rosemary, oregano, coriander, turmeric, bay leaf, raw leafy vegetables
At the cafe, the soups showcase variety, spices, and herbs. Here is a recipe for the Moroccan Carrot Soup which provides the six tastes, herbs, and spices for digestive health.

Moroccan Carrot Soup Recipe
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground coriander
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
3 pounds of carrots peeled and cut into 3 inch chunks
6 cups mineral broth
Zest of one lemon
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Sea salt
Black pepper

Directions

1. Warm olive oil in soup pot.  Once warm add in chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté vegetables until they are soft, but have not begun to color. 
2. Add spices into the pot.  Sauté spices with onions and garlic until the mixture becomes fragrant.
3. Add carrots and broth.  Bring to a simmer and simmer until the carrots are very tender.
4. Remove soup from heat and allow it to cool for 15 minutes.  Then carefully purée batches of the soup in a vitamix until smooth. Stir in lemon zest and juice.  Taste.  Add salt and pepper to taste.
   
   

Love,
Julia
xo​