Dale on Chris Evans show

For every illness and ailment you can think of there's a corresponding potion or pill. But if you want to go au natural then Mother Nature's medicine cabinet can't be beat; and, with a little bit of culinary creativity, she tastes much better too! We were joined live in the studio by the UK's only Medicinal cook, Dale Pinnock

Doctor Dale’s Flu Fighting Shitakke Soup…
This recipe is wonderful. It provides masses of nutrients, improves circulation, and includes herbs that give the immune system a kick! Not to mention the fact that it is delicious!!

1 Large sweet potato
1.5 cup of red lentils
1 medium sized red onion
1-2 scoops of Total Nutrition superfood
2 inch of fresh ginger
6 cloves of garlic (not advised before a date!)
3 tablespoons of goji berries.For stock1 cup of dried astragalus roots (available from stores such as Neals Yard Remedies)
1.5 cups of dried shiitake mushrooms
vegetable buillon powder to taste

Start by preparing the stock. Put the astragalus roots and shitake mushrooms in a large saucepan and cover them with cool water. Bring this to the boil then simmer gently for about 30 mins, occasionally topping up the water to maintain the original volume. Strain the liquid, discard the roots and mushrooms and add enough vegetable buillon to suit your taste. Set the stock aside in another container.Put the red lentils on the boil until they are soft. In the saucepan again saute the finely chopped onion, garlic, and ginger in some cold pressed olive oil, adding a little bit of salt (very important to bring all the flavours out). Saute these until they are all soft. Add the peeled diced sweet potato and the drained red lentils. Cover with enough stock to suitably cover the ingredients (you can always add more if it is too thick, but you cannot take it away!).

Boil together until the sweet potato is soft. At this point blend the soup thoroughly and a beautiful smooth rich soup is the end result. A nutritional and medicinal power house.contains:

Anti-oxidants - such as vitamin C, beta carotene and many flavanoids (red, yellow, and orange pigments in plants) which will reduce inflammation that is partly responsible for the aches and pains.

Polysaccharides - These are large sugar molecules that aren't actually absorbed by the body, but will influence the immune system. These molecules come from the astragalus root, goji berries, and the shiitake mushroom. They stimulate the production and activity of white blood cells, and make them more aggressive - thus increasing the rate of recovery.

Protein - from the lentils. Good quality protein is vital when fighting any infection. It is vital for recovery and for optimal functioning of the immune system and production of the cells that compose it. There is also a very unique storage protein found in the sweet potatoes, that can have a positive influence upon the health of the white blood cells.

Garlic - is a potent antibacterial and antiviral agent. It contains volatile oils (that friends can smell the day after your curry!!) that are capable of killing bacteria and viruses in the upper respiratory tract (lungs, nose throat). They are removed from the body via the respiratory tract. As they move through the lungs, they can annihilate viruses and bacteria to quite a profound degree.

Ginger - Is a very powerful anti-inflammatory. When we have a cold, the mucus membranes that line the nose and sinuses become inflamed (rhinitis). Ginger can help to take this inflammation down and ease breathing. Ginger also increases circulation thus aids in nutrient and oxygen transport to all areas of the body. This ensures optimal function of all tissues and provision of nourishment to them!

Enjoy!!!!!