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Root & Nourish

An Herbal Cookbook for Women's Wellness

About The Book

Embrace the ancient healing power of plants with more than 100 whole-food, plant-based, gluten-free herbal recipes, as well as mindfulness and holistic lifestyle practices, designed around the most common health concerns of modern women.

Did you know you have access to a potent and sophisticated apothecary—right in your own kitchen? Plants, specifically herbs and spices, have been used for centuries as part of holistic healing traditions around the world to promote health, longevity, and beauty. And as more people become afflicted with chronic stress-based conditions, from inflammation and food allergies to anxiety and depression and menstrual irregularities, a whole new generation is rediscovering nature’s power for long-term wellness.

In Root & Nourish, wellness experts Abbey Rodriguez and Jennifer Kurdyla teach women how to incorporate plant medicine into everyday life through food and self-care. Organized into three areas of health concerns prevalent in women today—digestion, mental health, and female reproductive hormonal health—these affordable, seasonal, and sustainable recipes, drawn from Western herbalism and Ayurveda, are designed to help you curate a personalized herbal apothecary that will serve you for a lifetime.

Inside you’ll find dishes including:
- Thai Peanut Stir-Fry with Tofu to tackle gut health
- Heartwarming Vegan Chili to promote mental health
- Adaptogenic Chocolate Chip Cookies for female reproductive health

Once you come to learn which ingredients offer you the nourishment you need, whether in the moment or to support chronic conditions, you will understand your body—and yourself—as you never have before: as nature intended.

About The Authors

Photograph by Matt Rodriguez

Abbey Rodriguez is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, herbalist, and food content creator. Over the last five years, she has been developing recipes for women and young families on her food and wellness blog, The Butter Half. She is deeply passionate about the power of plants and nutrition, and teaching others about holistic wellness. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and three children. Visit her online at thebutterhalf.com and on Instagram: @thebutterhalf_.

Photograph by Matt Rodriguez

Jennifer Kurdyla is an Ayurvedic health counselor, yoga teacher, and writer. For over ten years she has maintained a plant-based lifestyle, during which time she has come to revere whole, natural foods by developing, and sharing, recipes from her tiny New York kitchen. A former book editor, she believes in the power of storytelling as a tool to heal our bodies, minds, and spirits, as well as a way to form a more respectful connection to the Earth. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her online at JenniferKurdyla.com and on Instagram @JenniferKurdyla.

Product Details

  • Publisher: S&S/Simon Element (April 6, 2021)
  • Length: 240 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781982148560

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Raves and Reviews

“Root & Nourish is a gorgeous cookbook that showcases how herbs and spices make the most of a plant-based lifestyle while being friendly to the planet. These heartwarming recipes show how easy it is to incorporate plants into delicious vegan dishes like Spaghetti Squash Boats with Basil & Oregano and White Bean Celery Root Soup with Thyme & Rosemary—nourishing for the mind, body, and spirit” —Chloe Coscarelli, Vegan Chef and Author of Chloe Flavor

"I love the concept of a Kitchen Apothecary. In Root and Nourish, Kurdlya and Rodriguez share their infectious love for food and herbal medicine. One of my earliest Ayurveda teachers told me she considered herbs as food, and used them as such, an integrated part of daily nutrition. This is a lesson I never forgot, and I continue to work with spices, herbs, and foods together, to this day. This book shares some very inspiring recipes for medicinal foods, while educating about how to use herbs in our cooking. This book will help women build a strong relationship with food and its healing nature, and unlock intuitive healing potential in the kitchen. Root and Nourish is an excellent addition to the growing resources for medicinal eating." —Kate O'Donnell, author of The Everyday Ayurveda Guide to Self-Care

“Having trouble thinking of what to cook tomorrow? We’re here to help with a simple vegetarian meal plan that includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Indulge with fluffy pancakes, a quick soup, a delectable mushroom risotto, and tasty peanut butter fudge brownies. Each recipe is adapted from Root & Nourish: An Herbal Cookbook for Women’s Wellness by Abbey Rodriguez and Jennifer Kurdyla. The book offers an herbal guide to holistic health, with every meal helping with a certain area of wellness. For instance, the pancakes—delicious in their own right—are designed to support mental health, while the soup, risotto, and fudge support female reproductive and hormonal health. Use these recipes as a part of your self-care ritual, while simultaneously nurturing both your body and mind.”Yoga Journal

"I simply love Root & Nourish! It's a wonderful collection of recipes (not to mention beautiful photos) grounded in a sound, earth-based philosophy." —Rosemary Gladstar

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