Soups
Astragalus Reishi Red Jujube Lean Pork Soup
traditionally supports liver health, strengthens the spleen, and nourishes qi and blood
In short: Astragalus Reishi Red Jujube Lean Pork Soup is a soup that traditionally supports liver health, strengthens the spleen, and nourishes qi and blood. It is most often made for digestive wellness, liver wellness, energy & vitality. Total time about 50 min. Key ingredients: astragalus root, lean pork.
Why people make this soup
When someone has been dealing with chronic liver illness for a long time — whether it is hepatitis, fatty liver, or another condition — the traditional Chinese picture is one of prolonged depletion: the spleen and stomach weaken, qi and blood become insufficient, and the spirit grows restless. Nourilo describes the familiar constellation of symptoms: a sallow yellowish complexion, persistent low-energy, reduced appetite with bloating after eating, dull aching along the ribs, restless sleep, dizziness. The therapeutic logic in this soup is to address the underlying weakness rather than the symptom: strengthen the spleen’s energy (astragalus), calm and restore the spirit while supporting liver and immune function (reishi), and gently nourish the blood (jujube and pork). Both astragalus and reishi have been the subject of extensive modern research regarding their polysaccharide content and effects on immune modulation and liver-protective activity.
What studies say about the key ingredients
Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.
- Astragalus root
TA-65 was associated with longer leukocyte telomeres compared with controls, but the meta-analysis found no significant improvement in frailty measures or inflammatory markers (CRP/IL-6). Mild gastrointestinal effects were reported.Limitation: Industry-funded trials reported larger effects than others, and the compound is a purified extract at doses not comparable to eating Astragalus root.PubMed 41286474 · 3 more astragalus root studies - Red dates
Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates studies
From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.
Safety first — read before you cook
This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
- take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
- have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.
Ingredient notes for this recipe
- Astragalus: May interact with medicines that suppress the immune system. A thorough safety evaluation has not been done, and little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Source: NIH NCCIH — Astragalus
Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes
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