Immune boosting soup

This soup contains herbs and food as medicine to support the immune system, recovery and herbal antimicrobials.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil (high in polyphenols)

• 1 medium onion, diced (pre-biotic and helps kill off pathogens)

• 4 cloves of garlic, minced (pre-biotic and helps kill off pathogens)

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves) (anti-microbial and supportive for the lungs)

• 8 ounces mixed medicinal mushrooms (such as shiitake, maitake, or reishi), sliced (immune boosting beta-glucans, prebiotic and other actions depending on mushroom)

• 4 cups chicken bone broth (supportive for the gut)

• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (easily digestible)

• Salt and pepper to taste (just yum)

• Fresh parsley for garnish (rich in vitamin c)

• OPTIONAL HERBAL UPGRADE: when you are creating your broth or soup add in some root herbs like ginger, astragalus (only if you aren’t actively sick), withania, or any other root that may benefit you.

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté until translucent and fragrant, about 5 minutes.

2. Add minced garlic and dried thyme (if using fresh thyme, add it later) to the pot and cook for another minute, stirring frequently.

3. Add the sliced medicinal mushrooms to the pot and sauté until they start to soften and release their moisture, about 5-7 minutes.

4. Pour in the chicken bone broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

5. Add the cooked chicken to the pot and simmer for an additional 5 minutes to warm it up.

6. Season the soup with salt and pepper to taste, adjusting the seasoning as needed.

7. If using fresh thyme, add it to the pot during the last few minutes of simmering.

8. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool slightly. Serve the soup hot, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.

Enjoy the comforting and nourishing flavors of this chicken and medicinal mushroom soup! You can also add additional vegetables like carrots, celery, or leafy greens to enhance the nutritional value and texture of the soup. Feel free to customize the recipe according to your taste preferences and dietary needs.