Cold and Flu Season - Does chicken noodle soup really help? Find out here and get a great chicken noodle soup recipe.
Whenever we are sick with cold and flu, we are usually found wearing our most comfortable pajamas, resting in our cozy bed, and eating a hot bowl of chicken noodle soup. Have you ever wondered why chicken noodle soup is the go-to remedy for a cold or flu? Does it make us feel better?
While chicken noodle soup doesn’t actually ‘cure’ a cold or the flu, it does have some great ingredients to help you feel better faster! Not only that, but it is a staple comfort food during the cold months. Most of us have some in the pantry or perhaps even the ingredients to make our own!
So, how does it help us feel better? Let’s start with the chicken broth, a great liquid to help hydrate, with electrolytes such as sodium and magnesium. The steam from a nice hot bowl of broth is also great for opening up the nasal passages.
Chicken noodle soup also contains many nutrients that are great for boosting immunity and helping you fight cold and flu symptoms, including zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, and antioxidants. It is also easily digested and not hard on your stomach.
Many people make chicken noodle soup with garlic and onions as an added and very significant bonus. Not only do they taste great, but they also have excellent antiviral and antibiotic properties. Also, onions contain anti-inflammatory compounds like quercetin and kaempferol, which can help reduce inflammation in the airways and alleviate coughing associated with irritated or swollen airways.
So, while it may not completely cure the cold or flu, it will help you feel better! After all, it’s not just an old wives’ tale, so give our chicken noodle soup recipe and try and let us know how you like it!