My friend the herbalist told me years ago that I could have a meal in a bowl of soup and that it would help me in cleansing my system, my skin and my hair.

She was right!  At first it was just bowls and bowls of fresh vegetable soup.  Kale, spinach, string beans, red peppers, onions and a vast assortment of herbs, dried or fresh.  Yum, Yum.

One of my favorite soups is Butternut Squash.  Typically a winter soup but I’ll cook and freeze it for summer months.

Here is what I learned about butternut squash when coupled with other veggies and herbs.  It makes a soup that can treat sagging skin, droopy eyelids, fine lines and sallow looking skin.  It’s also excellent for sluggish and weak digestion. Go figure!

The thing about some of these herbs is that they are what we know as Chinese herbs.  The Chinese look at the energetic qualities of foods and how it affects the harmony of our bodies.  They also try to have each taste present at every meal to help keep your body in complete harmony.

When your body is in complete harmony all of your organs function properly, your blood is clean and this produces healthy black skin and hair.

Not every herb has to be traditional Chinese herbs.  For those of you that have herb gardens you can produce your own blends for seasoning and create some wonderful flavors for your food.

On the other hand herbs like sage and rosemary that we traditionally use at Holiday time, are two of the most well known herbs used in hair care products for hair growth.  But when you use them to flavor a soup or vegetable, not only are you nourishing your body you’re also nourishing your skin and hair.

For the record, here is the recipe for the Butternut Squash Soup:

Ingredients

1/2 cup of olive oil

3 cup butternut squash, peeled, seeded and and cubed

2 carrots, cut up

1 rutabaga, peeled ad cut into cubes

1 onion, cut up

5 garlic cloves, peeled

1/2 ginger root, peeled and cubed

10 sticks dried astralagus

1 tbsp nutmeg

2 tsp cinnamon

10 cups of vegetable broth (for those of you that want a more traditional broth, chicken broth is often used as a substitute

herbamare (a salt substitute)

Directions

• Put olive oil into a big pot on medium fire (heat)
• Add onions, garlic, ginger cinnamon, nutmeg, astralagus and sautee until soft
• Add vegetable broth or chicken stock to pot and then
• Add butternut squash, carrots and rutabaga and bring to boil until soft and tender
• When completely done, transfer into blender or food processor and mix until soft and smooth
• Return the soup to the pot and season with herbamare or salt substitute

You can add sour cream and serve.  The healthiest of skin and hair is gotten by being as conscious about what you eat as well as by what you apply topically.

Dedicated to Your Beauty,

Juliette Samuel,

Esthetician/Publisher

NYRAJU Skin Care – Providers of Natural Skin and Hair Care Products for the African American Market

http://www.nyrajuskincare.com