An autumn cleanse calls for warm, soothing broths and soups to keep you cozy while your body detoxifies. The following two recipes feature seasonal root vegetables, warming herbs, a touch of miso and immune-enhancing mushrooms.
Miso Shiitake Soup
Serves 4
1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1 cup carrots, thinly sliced
1-1/2-inch piece of gingerroot, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 cups vegetable stock or water
2 tablespoons light miso, or to taste
2 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces
1. In a heavy pot over medium heat, sauté shiitake mushrooms, carrots and ginger in olive oil for 3 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute.
2. Add vegetable broth or water and simmer, covered, for another 5 minutes, or until carrots are tender. Turn off heat.
3. Dissolve miso in a small amount of hot broth and stir into soup. Add scallions and cover. Let stand for 2 minutes and serve.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 135 calories 
Fat: 7g % fat calories: 45% Cholesterol: 0mg Carbohydrate: 16g Protein: 3g
Autumn Tonic Soup
Serves 4
1/2 cup burdock root, scrubbed and sliced into 1/2-inch half moons
1/2 cup carrots, sliced into 1/2-inch half moons
1/2 cup cabbage, thinly sliced
1/2 cup parsnips, sliced into 1/2-inch half moons
1/2 cup red onion, chopped
1/2 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
5 cups vegetable stock or water
2 tablespoons light miso, or to taste
2 scallions, minced
Freshly ground black pepper
1. In a large, heavy pot over medium heat, sauté burdock, carrots, cabbage, parsnips, onion, shiitake and garlic in olive oil for 10 minutes.
2. Add vegetable stock or water and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
3. Dilute miso in small amount of hot broth and add to soup. Turn off heat, add scallions, cover and let stand for 5 minutes.
4. Season with black pepper if desired.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 156 calories Fat: 7g % fat calories: 39% Cholesterol: 0mg Carbohydrate: 22g Protein: 3g
Recipes reprinted with permission from 14-Day Herbal Cleansing by Laurel Vukovic (Prentice Hall, 1998).