Hearty Chickpea Noodle Soup with Balance Blend

January, 21 2024 | by EASTON GILOWSKI

Hearty Chickpea Noodle Soup featuring the Balance Blend offers a unique way to end your day on a positive note. The Balance Blend is a carefully curated mix of Reishi, Lion's Mane, Maitake, and Shiitake mushroom extracts, each selected for their distinct health benefits. This blend mitigates daily stress and sets the stage for restorative sleep.

Reishi for Sleep: The Mushroom of Immortality

The inclusion of Reishi mushrooms in the blend plays a critical role in enhancing sleep quality. Reishi mushrooms are renowned for their tranquillity-inducing properties, integral to achieving restful sleep and maintaining overall health. They work by increasing the production of sleep-promoting neurotransmitters and positively influencing gut microbiota [1]. 

This latter aspect is crucial, affecting rest through the gut-brain axis [2]. Research indicates that Reishi mushrooms prolong total sleep time and intensify non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, resulting in deeper and more restorative rest periods [1,2]. Additionally, they help regulate cytokines like TNF-alpha, which are known to foster NREM sleep and alleviate stress by improving sleep quality [1,2].

Lion’s Mane for Brain Health and Memory

Lion's Mane mushroom is another key component of the Balance Blend, celebrated for supporting brain health. This mushroom contains unique compounds known as hericenones and erinacines, vital for neurogenesis and mental functionality, particularly in memory retention [3]. 

Studies have demonstrated these compounds' ability to reverse memory decline in experimental models, attributed to their stimulating cell growth in the brain's hippocampus [3]. Lion’s Mane also enhances the production of nerve growth factor (NGF), which is essential for the well-being of nerve cells and cognitive processes [4,5].

Maitake and Shiitake: Antioxidant Powerhouses 

The Balance Blend also features Maitake and Shiitake mushrooms, both of which are recognized as antioxidant powerhouses. They contain ergothioneine, a potent antioxidant that plays a significant role in cellular health and tackling various health conditions [6]. Oxidative stress is a contributing factor to numerous diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes [6]. 

Ergothioneine-rich supplements, like those found in these mushrooms, can substantially decrease the risk factors associated with these diseases. Incorporating Maitake and Shiitake mushrooms into your evening routine can boost cognitive functions, enhance exercise performance, and offer myriad health benefits, effectively countering the negative impacts of oxidative stress.

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp olive oil/grass-fed butter 

1 large yellow onion  

1 tbsp crushed garlic 

4-5 fresh thyme springs  

3 bay leaves 

2 cups Celery sliced  

2 cups Carrots sliced  

1 tsp curry powder  

1 tsp paprika 

1 tsp turmeric  

1 tsp ginger  

Salt + pepper to taste (add throughout)  

2 cans organic chickpeas- drained and rinsed  

2 cups (14oz) uncooked rotini noodles  

1 can organic coconut milk 

4 cups vegetable broth  

1 tsp Eversio Mushroom Balance Blend  

½ of a fresh squeezed lemon  

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

 

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large pot heat your olive oil or butter on medium heat 
2. Add in your diced onion, crushed garlic, thyme springs, and bay leaves. Season with salt & pepper and allow the onion to turn slightly translucent.   
3. After 2-3 minutes add your sliced carrots and celery. Season with salt & pepper again to pull lots of flavor into the veggies. 
4. Add in all your spices: curry powder, paprika, turmeric and ginger. Allow this to cook together for 5 minutes on medium heat, stirring frequently.  
5. Add in your chickpeas, rotini noodles, coconut milk, and vegetable broth. Season with a generous pinch of salt & pepper.  
6. Bring the pot to a simmer on medium high heat, then cover and bring down to low heat for about 8 minutes or until your noodles have cooked to your liking.  
7. Stir in your Eversio Mushroom Blend, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar and season to taste with salt & pepper! 
8. Serve with fresh sourdough and enjoy!