2023-11-30 17:12:34
Chicken soup is said to help the body regain its strength when you have a cold.
Pexels/Karolina Grabowska
Published 30. November 2023, 6:12 p.m
Health: Does chicken soup really help with a cold?
A cold is tiring and drains energy. Many people swear by chicken soup. But does it really have a healing effect?
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Coughing, sniffling, sneezing – many people in Switzerland are currently sick. To get rid of the annoying beasts, many people resort to home remedies. One thing has particularly proven itself: the chicken soup.
For many, the hot broth is closely linked to childhood memories. As soon as the cold season arrives and the first noses start to run, the traditional remedy is bubbling on the stove. Chicken soup works wonders for a cold – at least that’s what one generation after the next claims.
As early as the 10th century, Chinese medicine was concerned with the effects of chicken soups and described them in texts. The dissemination of these texts led to the belief that chicken soup has a demonstrably positive effect on our immune system and can positively influence the course of illnesses, especially colds.
There are important nutrients in the broth.
Peyels/Karolina Kolodziejczak
Important nutrients
But is that true or does the warm chicken soup just have a placebo effect? The fact is: The broth contains important nutrients that are obtained from ingredients such as chicken, leek, celery, onions, carrots as well as bay leaves, parsley or juniper berries. Due to the long cooking time (at least two hours!), the ingredients slowly come out. The different types of vegetables contain minerals, vitamins as well as antioxidants, fiber and secondary plant substances. The broth gets proteins, minerals and vitamins from bones and meat and if there is pasta in the pot, a portion of carbohydrates is added.
Allows mucous membranes to swell
Research also has evidence that the effect is not just your imagination. One Study from the US state of Nebraska shows: Chicken soup slows down the production of certain white blood cells. These are so-called neutrophils, which are partly responsible for inflammatory processes. For example, neutrophils are released in large quantities during flu-like infections and, among other things, cause the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract to swell.
Flu infections are tiring and drain energy.
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Moisturizes mucous membranes
According to the Healthcare Foundation The warmth of the broth also ensures that blood vessels expand and the tissue is supplied with blood. That’s why chicken soup is often found to be beneficial for a flu-like infection.
And the liquid intake via the soup is also an advantage. Warm liquids ensure that the mucous membranes do not dry out and cause secretions to be loosened and secreted better. This was confirmed by a study at the Common Cold Center at Cardiff University in England. In the study, 30 people who already had a cold were given drinks that they drank hot or cold. The results of the trial showed that hot drinks can very quickly and effectively help relieve the symptoms of a cold or flu, such as a runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, cough and fatigue.
The general rule is: warm liquids help with colds.
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Which home remedies help you with a cold?
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