Did you know that the word “recipe” has its origins in French and means “medical prescription”? This chicken soup fills the Rx: it’s full of the flavors, colors, and nutrients of Nature. Real food to nurture your body, mind, and spirit!
Here are a few of the medicinal qualities of chicken soup:
1) ANTI-INFLAMMATORY: Chicken broth is rich in carnosine, an amino acid that helps to reduce the flood of cytokines, those inflammatory compounds that contribute to the runny nose, sneezing and cough we get with respiratory infections. According to several cell-culture studies looking at the activity of our white blood cells, the amino acid, carnosine is the compound with the most potent anti-inflammatory action. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11035691
2) ANTI-MICROBIAL: Another benefit of chicken soup comes from the phytonutrient-rich vegetables cooked into the broth: onion, carrot, celery and parsnip. Remember, phytonutrients are those chemical messengers in plants that “talk” to our immune system. I include ample garlic and oregano, both of which have anti-microbial activity. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23569978
3) MUCOLYTIC: Chicken is also rich in the amino acid, cysteine, which thins mucous and helps the cilia, those tiny hairs lining the bronchi and lungs, to move mucous up and out of the lungs. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15281093
Chicken soup is obviously hydrating, and the hot broth helps promote mucous drainage. If you can tolerate some extra heat, add a pinch of red chili flakes to further clear your sinuses and lungs!
So let’s get cooking! This weekend is the perfect time to use my recipe to make a big pot of chicken soup. I always make this large batch, so I have plenty to freeze and sip on these cold winter nights ahead!
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