Even in grandma's day, a hearty chicken soup was a popular household remedy for colds. But does it really have a positive effect on your health or does it just taste delicious? We've done some research.
Your nose is running, you're cold and your handkerchief mountain is growing incessantly. There is hardly anything more annoying than colds.
Above all, colds and the like always come when you need them least.
If you want to get rid of the sniffles quickly, then only warm chicken soup will help. Or?
Is it really true that chicken soup works for colds or is it just a myth?
Table of contents
Opinions differ on the question of whether chicken soup helps against colds. That's why U.S. scientists at the University of Nebraska have been looking into this very issue.
The results were clear. Chicken soup against colds indeed shows positive effects. More specifically, the study foundthat this curbs inflammatory processes in the throat and nose.
Attention: This is how long your cold is contagious!
Why is chicken soup so good for colds?
Scientists found out during research that the ingredients of a chicken broth work against the inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. Especially the protein cysteine plays a role. It has an anti-inflammatory and decongestant effect. In addition, the soup contains a lot of zinc, which is bound to the protein building block histidine.
White blood cells are always involved in the cold process. With every infection where viruses penetrate the mucous membranes in the mouth and nose, the white blood cells also make their way there.
This causes the mucous membranes to swell and subsequently leads to colds and coughs. With the help of a strong chicken soup, their activity can be inhibited.
The chicken meat and vegetables in the soup contain ingredients that inhibit inflammation. However, it has not yet been possible to clarify exactly which ingredients are involved. Further research is still needed for this.
So chicken soup for colds is a good and delicious idea!
Why does broth help with colds?
The hot steam of the chicken broth is good for the mucous membranes. Not only are they moistened, but the secretions in your nose and throat can drain better. Your cold probably won't pass more quickly with the soup. But you can relieve the symptoms. Last but not least, chicken soup for a cold is good because you take in a lot of liquid.
It's especially important to drink plenty of fluids when you have inflammation. In addition to soup, you should also drink unsweetened teas, juice spritzers or water. You can easily flush many uninvited guests out of your body. Ideally, with a chicken soup you can Prevent colds. Also when averting colds and co. it is crucial that you drink a lot and thus give viruses no chance to settle in your body.
It is also very important that you take in lots of vitamins and nutrients. Your body needs these now in large quantities to be fit again quickly.
Why chicken soup helps only in combination with a healthy diet
If you think that just spooning broth will lead to strong defenses, we're sorry to disappoint you.
It is important that you eat a balanced and healthy diet. Especially if your immune system is weakened.
Chicken soup for colds is not enough as a prevention against colds and co!
You should therefore take the recommendation "5 a day" to heart. This means that you should eat two portions of fruit and at least three portions of vegetables every day. This corresponds to about 250 g of fruit and 400 g of vegetables.
Even if there are still divided opinions on the subject of chicken soup for colds, here the experts agree: a lack of nutrition increases the likelihood that you will catch an infection.
So, if you want to support your defenses, it is important to pay attention to a rich and healthy diet.
You should also get enough sleep. Stress is also pure poison for the immune system, just like alcohol and smoking.
All these tips will help your body's defenses do their best work.
There is a very easy rule that can help you. The more colorful you eat, the healthier it is.
Attention: Therefore, you must never suppress sneezing!
What ingredients are in grandma's chicken soup?
Chicken soup is a very simple and quick dish to prepare - I always have the components on hand. The fresh soup chicken can of course be cooked with a nice strong broth, but it also works well with a frozen pack of chicken parts.
It doesn't look very appealing, but it's perfect for a hearty broth. It is removed from the pot after cooking and not used further, so the appearance is not important.
If you don't want to cook a whole chicken, you can use chicken giblets. This term refers to many chicken parts that you don't usually eat. The meatless back part of the chicken, the wings and the neck are examples.
Carrots, parsnips, leeks, parsley, celery, onions make up the soup spice. It is available in dried form and will last a long time on your spice shelf at the spice counter of a well-stocked supermarket. I always have a packet of it in my kitchen cupboard, because I make soup seasoning myself.
I use chicken breast fillets for the meat, but carrots, kohlrabi, cauliflower and peas are also good vegetables to add.
If you like, you can add a little cooked rice to the soup.
What you need to consider when cooking the chicken broth
If you use a soup chicken, the cooking time is much longer - it should simmer for 2 hours to make a tasty broth and soften it. Please note that the meat is not very tender; it will not soften even after longer cooking. However, you can chop it and use it as a soup garnish.
The soup base, whether made from a whole chicken or chicken parts, must be prepared in cold water and heated slowly. This prevents the protein from curdling before it can transfer its important nutrients to the broth. Slow cooking is a particularly good way to leach out the meat. By the way, you can apply this tip to any soup.
Even if we are not fit, the eye eats with us. For a beautiful golden color, put the onion with the peel in the water.
The meat, the carrots, the onion and other ingredients you can and should eat! So you miss guaranteed no nutrients. :)
And after the soup, treat yourself to a relaxing bath with additives that reduce colds. Eucalyptus and rosemary are particularly suitable for this. By the way, you don't have to buy a cold bath, you can easily do it yourself.
Chicken soup against colds
Ingredients
- 5-6 Chicken wings
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1/2 Confederation Parsley
- 1 Onion with peel
- 1 big carrot
- 1 Liter Water
- 1 Confederation Greens
- Salt and pepper
Anleitung
- Cut the carrot into small pieces and halve the onion. Put them in the saucepan. Pour in cold water.
- Bring the chicken wings to a boil with bay leaf, parsley and greens.
- Cook the soup on low heat for at least an hour. I add a few fresh carrot pieces 10 minutes before eating and let them simmer briefly. This keeps them firm to the bite.
- Remove the meat from the wings. The best way to do this is to cut the wings on a cutting board.
- Combine with noodles or soup chowder of choice.
If you like, you can sprinkle a little fresh chives over the soup. Chives contain a lot of vitamin C, folic acid and essential oils, which are healthy and help against colds.
Our conclusion
Chicken soup is certainly not a cure-all. With the help of a homemade broth you can neither protect yourself from a cold, nor will your recovery be shortened.
For annoying cold symptoms to disappear, it just takes a little time.
However, chicken soup can help alleviate the symptoms of a cold. It also has a positive effect on your well-being.
Meal and get well soon! :)
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