Learn more about the healing properties of chicken soup that could help you fight respiratory viruses whose season is coming soon.
A staple of many world cuisines could be more than just comfort food. In a 12th-century treatise, the great medieval rabbi, physician and philosopher Moses Maimonides he recommended chicken soup to treat a respiratory disorder and may have been on to something. Today, science suggests that a warming bowl of chicken and vegetable soup is not only good nutrition, but can help relieve cold symptoms.
How chicken soup can help
Researchers from the Nebraska Medical Center tested a traditional recipe for chicken soup, which was boiled and thawed for a laboratory experiment. It was also tested at different stages of preparation to determine the individual effects of its ingredients and how they could relieve cold symptoms.
A study published in the journal Chest in 2000 showed that components of chicken broth can inhibit the movement of immune system cells called neutrophils. It’s possible that this could help suppress the body’s natural inflammatory response to infection, including the flow of mucus that usually accompanies a cold. Each of the ingredients showed a similar effect, suggesting that you can get the same effect from vegetable broth.
A small 2012 study published in the American Journal of Therapeutics found that chicken is rich in a compound called carnosine. According to researchers, carnosine affects the body’s immune response and could further help fight viruses. Various phytochemicals in vegetables also have medicinal properties. And while simply drinking hot liquids is known to relieve congestion by loosening secretions, past research suggests that chicken soup does this much more effectively than plain warm water.
Get the most out of your chicken soup
The Healthy has published the basics of the traditional recipe used, although other versions may work just as well, according to Nebraska researchers who tested commercial brands for comparison.
Ingredients
1 whole chicken (about 2 kg)
1 package of chicken wings
3 large onions
1 large sweet potato
3 parsnips
2 turnips
12 larger carrots
5 sticks of celery
parsley, salt and pepper to taste
Put the chicken in a large pot, cover with cold water and let it boil. Add all other vegetables except celery and parsley and cook for 90 minutes. Add celery and parsley, cook for another 45 minutes, then remove the chicken (which can be used in another dish). Chop the vegetables in a food processor and season the soup as desired.
Safety first
There are no known adverse effects of chicken broth, except for situations where whole or parts of chicken bones are swallowed. And which, believe it or not, happened…
Track N1 via Android apps | iPhone/iPad and social networks Twitter | Facebook | Instagram.
