The body’s imbalances have a funny way of showing up on our skin and recently the sweet treats have been showing their effects on my forehead and chin 🫢 But that doesn’t mean completely punishing myself and avoiding all sweets (impossible) — it’s more about balancing out the diet, decreasing the amount of treats but also adding a bit more foods and ingredients to balance out the effects of them.
Bone broths are always a staple meal prep item in the Sun household but this one, made with the Silkie chicken, is especially effective for balancing out the acne, inflammation, and puffiness from my sweet treats. But when we simmer it for hours alongside any variation of these Chinese herbs, you get a nourishing, hydrating broth that supports your body’s natural processes to heal. Here’s a list of ones we usually use and what they’re good for:
Licorice Root (甘草, Gān Cǎo) – this root is known for its ability to boost digestion and calm a sensitive tummy, which always helps clear up my skin
Red Jujube (红枣, Hóng Zǎo) – these are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C, and add a subtle sweetness
Mountain Yam (山药, Shān Yào) – this is dried veggie is especially good for my dry skin because of it’s ability to strengthen the digestive system and support yin energy
Lotus Seeds (莲子, Lián Zǐ) – in Chinese cooking, this ingredient is believed to be “cooling”, which helps reduce inflammation
Black Soybeans (黑豆, Hēi Dòu) – unlike regular soybeans, these have much more antioxidants, especially anthocyanins, while also supporting the kidney, which is linked to skin vitality in Chinese medicine
Goji Berries (枸杞, Gǒu Qǐ) – adding these berries means adding their antioxidants to the broth, which helps protect the skin from UV damage ✨
Now onto the recipe!
Ingredients:
1 black skin chicken
5 red jujubes