A warming, liver-supportive meal to calm inflammation, support iron and soften the nervous system.

Inflammation, tension and emotional pressure often arrive quietly. For many women, they build over time, through doing too much, holding too much, or staying alert for longer than the body was meant to.

It might show up as soreness in the arms or shoulders, tight muscles, restless sleep, irritability, or a nervous system that feels permanently switched on. Sometimes it appears alongside low iron, fatigue, or a sense of inner heat that doesn’t quite settle.

In these moments, food can become more than nourishment. It can become a way of listening.

This warming beetroot soup is one I return to when the body feels overheated yet depleted at the same time — when there is a need to support liver health, blood flow and iron, while also calming the nervous system. It is grounding without being heavy, warming without being stimulating, and simple enough to allow the body to soften rather than brace.

Liver health, anger and inflammation in Chinese Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), physical symptoms, emotions and the nervous system are deeply interconnected.

The Liver system plays a central role in this. It is responsible for the smooth flow of energy (Qi) and blood throughout the body, the health of muscles and tendons, and our capacity to process and move emotions, particularly anger and frustration.

When Liver energy becomes constrained or overheated, it may express itself in different ways:

inflammation or pain, often on one side of the body
tightness in the arms, shoulders or neck
irritability, impatience or sudden anger
a nervous system that struggles to relax

Rather than viewing these signs as problems to suppress, Chinese Medicine sees them as signals, information from the body asking for balance.

Food, in this context, is not just fuel. It is one of the gentlest ways to influence how energy moves and how the nervous system responds.

Why beetroot is supportive for the liver and blood

Beetroot has long been valued for its relationship with blood and circulation. Nutritionally, it contains iron and compounds that support blood flow. Energetically, it is considered cooling and blood-moving in Chinese Medicine, helping to clear excess heat and ease stagnation.

However, how beetroot is prepared matters.

Raw foods can be cooling, but they can also be taxing on digestion, especially when the nervous system is already overloaded. Warm, cooked foods are generally more grounding and easier for the body to assimilate.

This is where soup becomes powerful.

A warm beetroot soup offers cooling support to the blood and liver while simultaneously calming the nervous system through warmth and ease of digestion. When paired with gentle spices such as cumin and coriander, it supports digestive fire without creating more heat.

This is not detox in the sense of forcing or cleansing.
It is support through softening and restoring flow.

How this soup came into my kitchen

I didn’t arrive at this recipe through a trend or a meal plan.

I went to my acupuncturist because I was dealing with inflammation in my right arm, the arm I use the most, alongside a nervous system that felt constantly alert. I noticed irritation and anger sitting close to the surface, and an inability to fully relax, even when I wanted to.

After listening and checking my pulse, she looked up and said, almost casually:
“You need to eat beetroot soup.”

I hadn’t mentioned food.
Yet it made immediate sense.

She explained that warmth was important, and that I should use a lot of beets not just a small amount. I realised then that I hadn’t eaten beetroot in quite some time, not intentionally.

This soup became my way back.