Best Butternut Squash Caribbean Style Soup for Hormone Support - from Period to Menopause

What makes our butternut squash soup exude a robust mix of island flare with women's well-being in mind? It's the look and definetly the taste but especially the nutrition profile that meets a very specific need. Okay, let's dive in on the details!

360Girls&Women® Butternut Squash Caribbean Style Soup

Besides the butternut squash - a starchy vegetable rich in vitamin A, with a good source of magnesium, potassium and fiber - there is bok choy, known to provide folate, iron, magnesium and fiber. These are necessary ingredients for girls' and women's health from period to menopause. A rock star for helping menstruating girls and women reduce period pain or cramping is Vitamin B6.  Vitamin B6 has also been shown in research to support pregnant women struggling with nasusea and vomitting. Additionally, women in the menopause stage can benefit from foods with a good source of vitamin B6 to improve cognitive function and aide in seratonin production. This is essential not just for sleep, but also for gut and hormone health. Our soup provides an excellent source of vitamin B6, as there is a whapping 47% DV of viamin B6 in each serving!

The combination of nutrients in this recipe including the herbs like thyme can provide hormone support and overall well-being for girls and women. At 360Girls&Women® , we provide protocols (integrative and functional approach) which may include and not limited to functional testing, herbal tenitures, shots, teas, poultacies, targeted high quality supplements, hydrotherapy, aromotherapy, mind and body therapies to assist with recovery, healing and achieving optimal health. Thus, asscertaining the root cause is always the first step. If you need personalized guidance book a call to see if you are a good fit for our programs

Speaking of thyme, this is one of the herbs used in traditional Jamaican dishes, along with spices like pimento seeds and scotch bonnet pepper enriches the food with exceptional taste. This soup packs nutrition and flavor. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

Ingredients: 5 cups, shredded bok choy 4 cups raw butternut squash 3.5 cups water

1 teaspoon pimento seeds 4 sprigs thyme 1/3 cups diced raw garlic ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt 2 teaspoons onion powder 1 teaspoon cumin

1/8 tsp cheyenne pepper or 1/4 slice of scotch bonnet pepper (if available) or heat to preference

Avocado oil spray

Directions

1. Place pot on stove top and set to medium heat.

2. Lightly spray your pot with avocado oil.

3. Add butternut squash cook for 2-3 minutes mixing it to ensure it gets a darker brown color. Then add the diced garlic and mix for another minute.

4. Add the water, salt, cumin, and onion powder, thyme, pimento, thyme and pepper. Cover the pot and let it cook for ~ 10 minutes or until butternut squash is fork tender and slightly falling apart.

5. Add the bok choy and let it cook for ~ 1 min. Then turn off the heat. Serve hot or warm as a side to a main meal, an appetitzer or light dinner (depending on servings used).

Makes 3 servings.

Sue-Ellen Anderson Haynes, MS, RDN, CDCES, LDN, CPT

Nationally recognized nutrition and food expert and leading global expert in Gestational Diabetes.

"What makes us different?" 360 represents completion. At 360 G+W we provide personalized insights to help girls and women dramatically improve their wellbeing.​ Our mission is to provide evidence-based information and services to help maximize a woman's complete health through the complete life-cycle - preventing, managing, and reversing certain reproductive and chronic illnesses- using nutrition as the foundation along with other innovative holistic practices. Read more.

References:

1. Effect of Combined Use of Calcium and Vitamin B6 on Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms: a Randomized Clinical Trial. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4794546/ J Caring Sci. 2016 Mar; 5(1): 67–73.

2. Thyme Tea and Primary Dysmenorrhea Among Young Female Students. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7585774/ Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2020; 11: 147–155.

3. The role for vitamin B-6 as treatment for depression: a systematic review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15964874/