“Mom’s cold remedy” and “Jewish Penicillin” are just two of terms that have been used throughout the ages to describe chicken soup. We have all eaten this concoction in some form whether it was from a can of from scratch. Recent research proves that chicken soup has drug-like agents similar to those found in modern day cold medicines, and these may prove to be healthier than we thought.
Dr. Ziment, a pulmonologist from the UCLA School of Medicine found out that when you boil chicken in its own broth, it releases the amino acid cysteine. This chemical closely resembles acetylcyteine, which is commonly prescribed for bronchitis and other respiratory problems. Although cysteine is found in higher amounts in home-made soups, it turns out that canned chicken soups have the same great chemicals in them. After testing 13 name brand chicken soups, only one of these soups did not contain cysteine. Chicken flavored Ramen Noodles contained no cysteine, this was attributed to the fact that it is made with no real chicken broth. Other ingredients found in chicken soup like garlic, cayenne pepper, curry spices and other common herbs are all considered ancient treatments for respiratory diseases. Many of these plant products act as expectorants, and help thin the mucus in our system and therefore allow us to breath easier.
Another doctor out of the University of Nebraska has declared chicken soup to be an anti-inflammatory after testing various samples of his wife’s Lithuanian chicken soup. This soup stopped the movement of Neutrophils in his lab tests. This is important because cold symptoms are often produced when neutrophils migrate to our lung tubes and cause inflammation. When testing the soup he found out that even when the soup was diluted 200 times, the neutrophils still did not migrate. This magical soup contained chicken broth, parsley, onion, mint, basil, cilantro, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and a bunch of garlic. Dr. Zimment’s recommends sipping 1-2 cups of this soup to get the most benefits.
If you combine these immune system boosting soups with some simple and healthy habits, there is a good chance you will be able to escape the flu season unscathed. Washing your hands after every trip to the bathroom and before each and every meal will make a big difference. It is also important that you do not touch your eyes or your nose throughout the day. When we touch things around our house and out in the community that are infected with bacteria and viruses, we usually transfer these to our body via our eyes. One study says that we unconsciously touch our eyes 6 times an hour. Combine that fact with the knowledge that our eyes have almost no defense mechanisms or enzymes to ward off infections, and this helps us realize where most of our colds come from. Another great habit to acquire is a daily walk. 30-45 minutes of exercise at a moderate exertion level will not only work the holiday weight off, but it will also strengthen our immune system, and help you avoid infections.
Tis’ the season to be Merry! Let’s keep it that way with some healthy habits and few bowls of your favorite chicken soup. And remember if you like garlic and herbs in your soup, the more the better. Have a happy and healthy New Year.