Get healthy from the cells of Chinese medicine pharmacist Ai Okubo
October's food recipes

[October 2023]
Intestinal Care Recipes: Choose Autumn Salmon Over Sweets

The warm, sunny days of autumn make us feel happy, don't they? This season, with its delightful climate, is like a reward in itself, but it's important not to let your guard down. It's a time when temperature differences between day and night can sometimes reach 15℃.
Consequently, some people whose bodies struggle to adapt to climate changes may experience autonomic nervous system imbalances and general malaise.
Autumn, with its increased appetite and abundance of delicious foods, makes you want to try every sweet treat, but try to curb that desire and focus on caring for your gut to regulate your autonomic nervous system when you feel unwell.

◆This Month's Key Ingredient

Salmon

Familiar salmon is an excellent superfood. It activates autophagy, essential for keeping cells healthy, and is rich in astaxanthin, a red pigment that aids in antioxidant processes. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids, heme iron, and protein, making it beneficial not only for anti-aging but also for regulating the autonomic nervous system.

◆Recipe Introduction

Soothe the Mind and Moisturize from Within
Soy Milk Soup with Flaked Salmon and Nori

Isoflavones in soy milk increase collagen and elastin, which give elasticity to the skin, making this dish perfect for a season when you want to feel moisturized. Combined with salmon, it provides inner care for both the autonomic nervous system and beauty.→Check out the video for instructions

Ingredients
Fresh salmon (flaked) 15-30g (half a fillet)
Toasted nori seaweed (15cm square) 1 sheet
Unsweetened soy milk 200ml
Soy sauce 1 tsp
Mirin 1 tsp
Ground sesame seeds 1 tbsp
Olive oil A suitable amount
(Flaxseed oil or coconut oil also OK)

Instructions
① Flake the cooked salmon.
② Tear the toasted nori by hand, place all ingredients in a heat-resistant container, and heat in a 600W microwave for about 1 and a half minutes.
③ Drizzle with olive oil at the end and serve.

Point
* If using salted salmon, adjust the amount of soy sauce.
* Any leftover salmon can be cooked, flaked, and frozen in small portions, which is convenient.

Gut Care & Detox
Steamed Miso Salmon and Cabbage

The accumulation of harmful substances and waste products negatively affects energy metabolism and cellular regeneration. This recipe is packed with cabbage, which contains sulforaphane, vitamin C, vitamin U, and dietary fiber, and is beneficial for detoxification and gut care.→Check out the video for instructions

Ingredients
Fresh salmon 2 fillets
Cabbage 6 leaves
Maitake mushrooms 1 pack
Miso・Mirin 1 tbsp each
Water・Sake 2 tbsp each

Instructions
① Cut the fresh salmon into easy-to-eat pieces. Tear the cabbage and maitake mushrooms by hand.
② Lay the cabbage and maitake mushrooms in a frying pan, then place the salmon on top.
③ Mix all the seasonings and pour over step ②, cover, and steam. Ready in about 10 minutes.

Point
* If using salted salmon, adjust the amount of miso.

Profile

Ai Okubo

Pharmacist, Kampo (traditional Japanese medicine) counselor. She studied Kampo, medicinal cuisine, and Eastern beauty at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and was the first Japanese person to obtain the International Chinese Medicine Beauty Specialist qualification. After managing Kampo pharmacies, dispensing pharmacies, and beauty salons, she is now involved in product development, writing, and corporate consulting as an expert in medicine and beauty, including Kampo and medicinal cuisine.

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aivonne85/

Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ai_loveflower