Mom's Chinese Chicken Soup • Steamy Kitchen Recipes Giveaways (2024)

FAQs

What is it about chicken soup that makes you feel better? ›

“Chicken is also high in tryptophan, which helps your body produce serotonin that can enhance your mood and give you the feeling of 'comfort' that helps make chicken noodle soup a true comfort food,” Allonen says.

Noodles in Chicken Soup

All of these provide carbohydrates, the body's preferred source of energy. Carbs help you feel full and satisfied (another reason chicken noodle soup is comfort food). Being cooked in broth also makes them more digestible, helping your body focus its energy instead on fighting infection.

Reduce symptoms

Chicken is especially rich in a compound called carnosine, and it's this that studies suggest helps reduce that stuffy, congested feeling in your nose and throat. It's thought that carnosine minimises inflammation in the upper respiratory tract by stopping the migration of white blood cells.

“In particular, chicken is an excellent source of the amino acid cysteine, which has been shown to help thin mucus and help you manage cold and flu symptoms.” The broth that serves as the base of chicken soup can also provide fluids and electrolytes that help the body fight off infections, Collier noted.

Chicken soup is a staple for upset stomachs for a reason. It provides vitamins, protein and other nutrients, and it can help keep you hydrated. You don't need to use a lot of different ingredients to get the benefits either. This basic chicken soup recipe can help you feel better in no time.

Some soups are believed to detoxify; others reduce blood pressure or nourish the organs. Drinking the right Chinese soup is also thought to restore the balance of yin and yang in the body.

Soups that have a low glycemic index, for example, mixed vegetable soup, lentil soup or chicken soup, and mushroom soup, are great for you if you wish to lose weight. Since these soups are low in calories and high in satiety, they prevent weight gain and help manage conditions like diabetes.

Compared with hot water alone, studies show chicken soup is more effective at loosening mucus. The herbs and spices sometimes used in chicken soup, such as pepper and garlic, also loosen mucus. The broth, which contains water and electrolytes, helps with rehydration.

The broth provides hydrating fluid and electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium. That's especially helpful when you have a fever and run the risk of becoming dehydrated. The steam from hot broth also can open up nasal passages to help you breathe easier.

Is chicken soup good for inflammation? ›

So there was a study quite a while ago (in the forgotten 2000) and the researchers found out that chicken soup actually has a mild anti-inflammatory effect and that might be the reason why it's a good remedy for upper respiratory tract infections like the common cold.

The sodium in the recipe helps relieve sore throat pain (the same principle behind gargling warm salt water), the heat helps clear nasal congestion, and can relieve pain and sinus pressure. The vitamins and minerals in nutrient-dense soups can also speed recovery, Bailey adds.

Consuming soup not only hydrates you, but the sodium can also help ease the pain from a sore throat. Plus, the heat of the broth will work to relieve a stuffy nose and sinus pressure.

It's clear that soup is so good for you because of the nutritional benefits. Research has shown that the protein in chicken and antioxidants in vegetables can help the body make virus-killing antibodies. Also, a healthy soup provides an easy way to digest the nutrients we need, especially when we're sick.

The salt content in soup helps your body reabsorb more water, replenishing your body with the fluids it lost while your stomach was upset. If you have high blood pressure, however, go for low-salt varieties to at least get the benefit of the fluids.