Is chicken soup good for a cold?

Chicken soup for a cold may be one of the most familiar instances of folk wisdom. But unlike many old wive’s tales, there is a substantial amount of truth behind this one. Study after study has shown that chicken soup really can improve a cold. It may not CURE a cold, but a steaming hot bowl of chicken soup can greatly alleviate your symptoms.

 There are several reasons why:

 1. Garlic

Garlic is known to be a powerful immune system booster. Chicken soup often contains garlic. If you’re making a batch for a cold, be sure to toss in as many whole garlic cloves as you can stand.

2. Fluids are always good

Chicken soup is mostly water. What does your doctor always say? “Rest and fluids!”

3. An easy-to-digest protein

When you’re sick, you often don’t eat well. But it’s important to keep your body fueled properly, so that it can fight off the infection. Chicken soup contains simmered chicken proteins which give your body a boost that doesn’t take much energy to process.

4. Hot liquids help congestion

Whether it’s a cup of hot herbal tea or a bowl of piping hot soup, hot liquids help clear out your sinuses and your chest. This not only helps you feel better, it also helps move along the progression of your illness.

5. Salt water

Chicken soup is salty. And the same way that gargling with salt water helps a sore throat, drinking chicken soup will, too.

 Making chicken soup is easy, especially if you have a slow cooker. All you need is a chicken (either a whole raw chicken, or the carcass from a grocery store rotisserie chicken), water, salt, time, and a few simple flavoring ingredients. I like to add a few bay leaves, cracked pepper and some cloves of garlic. For a more traditional broth, add carrots, celery, onion, and a sprinkle of thyme. For an extra kick to clear your sinuses, dress your bowl with a dash of sriracha sauce!

Image courtesy of Flickr/HeyGabe