Food As Medicine: Tart Cherry Chickpea Curry by Food Blogger A Couple Cooks

September 8, 2017 | by Sonja Overhiser

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An incredible thing about food is it can be used as medicine, see how tart cherries can be used to help fight inflammation.

An incredible thing about food is it can be used as medicine. That is, some illnesses can be reversed just by changing the way you eat. Alex and I know people who have treated the symptoms of endometriosis by eating a plant-based diet, and others who have reversed the onset of diabetes. In fact, there’s a whole practice called food as medicine. Hospitals are even starting to prescribe foods in pharmacies (how cool is that?).

Alex and I are fascinated by food as medicine. While we’re not doctors, as recipe developers we get to take the foods prescribed by physicians and turn them into recipes. And having a theme for a recipe gets our creative juices flowing even more!

This curry looks innocent enough, but it’s actually hiding a secret theme: it’s full of anti-inflammatory foods. Chronic inflammation can lead to diseases like arthritis, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. The encouraging thing is, there are lots of foods that can help to offset inflammation. We created this curry to be an anti-inflammatory powerhouse, at the same time being packed with flavor. But take note that before these foods can do their job, it’s important to curb processed foods and limit sugars.

Instead of takeout or a processed dinner, try this curry instead! The recipe contains the following anti-inflammatory foods:

• Montmorency tart cherries, scientifically shown to reduce inflammation
• Colorful fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and kale
• Anti-inflammatory herbs and spices including turmeric and ginger, which increase the antioxidant capacity of fruits and vegetables
• Alliums like onions and crucifers like kale
• Vegetable protein from Garbanzo beans
• Whole grains like brown rice
• Extra-virgin olive oil as the main cooking oil

Eat it for the anti-inflammatory benefits, or just because it’s comforting and delicious! You choose.

Check out the full recipe here!

Sonja and Alex Overhiser are the author and photographer recipe developers behind A Couple Cooks, a food blog internationally known for its simple, vegetarian recipes and clean, bright photography. As healthy and sustainable food advocates, Sonja and Alex also produce the A Couple Cooks podcast, which features conversations in food with personalities from local farmers to celebrity chefs. For more, visit www.acouplecooks.com.