2006-10-02 15:41:17 · 27 answers · asked by Josh 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Couple of reasons.
1. It's mild. This makes it sit well in your stomach and doesn't create a lot of "trouble" LOL!
2. It has a lot of protein in it, always a good thing for energy, but when combined with the veggies (or noodles if it's chix noodle) it gets more potent.
3. Mostly, though, it's just a "comfort food." For many people, it's the idea that chix soup is what Mom made when they were sick, and so it adjusts their mental attitude and even if it doesn't "make them better," it gives them a sense of well being.
4. The heat helps warm you up if you have a fever that gives you chills - but any warm food can do that.
2006-10-02 15:42:00 · answer #1 · answered by tagi_65 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Doctor Stephen Rennard, a pulmonary expert, tested his grandmother's chicken soup in his lab. He found this age old recipe can help your body's response to a virus.
"What we showed was that the chicken soup has a very mild affect on the ability of these cells to move," said Dr. Rennard.
In other words, chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties that might explain why it soothes sore throats and eases cold symptoms.
"If you believe your grandma when she said you should take chickens soup for a cold our evidence would support that faith," said Dr. Rennard.
And there are other theories. A UCLA professor says chicken soup when cooking releases an amino acid that resembles a drug prescribed for bronchitis.
Some people say it's the steam that's the real benefit--or is it the spices like pepper and garlic which can work the same way as cough medicines?
"Everything is good for you. The vegetables are good for you the chicken is good for you," said Nettie.
And don't worry if you can't get home-made soup. Dr. Rennard also tested several commercial brands.
"Many of them were quite comparable to grandma's," said dr. Rennard.
In fact, Campbell's Healthy Request chicken noodle and Progresso's chicken noodle outdid his grandmother’s recipe.
2006-10-02 16:01:13 · answer #2 · answered by Carol H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Chicken soup is good for getting over colds, flu and other types of illness, but there are no vegetables in chicken soup. It's just chicken broth and home-made is the best kind because it doesn't have all the additives that commercial chicken soup has.
Do what mother says, eat your soup and gets lots of rest. Hope you feel better tomorrow....
2006-10-02 15:44:18 · answer #3 · answered by old lady 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
From my research of chicken soup, it is a natural antibiotic. Stock your shelves with chicken noodle, chicken broth & cream of chicken for winter colds, flu & aches & pains. Not to say it will work like a load of otc meds or prescriptions, but it will be 50% if not more of the healing process. Also toss in some tabasco/hot sauce and/or cayenne pepper. The heat will target in on the places that are "sick" & speed up the metabolism.
2006-10-02 15:48:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Particular blend of nutrients and vitamins in traditional chicken soup can slow the activity of certain white blood cells. This may have an anti-inflammatory effect that could hypothetically lead to temporary ease from symptoms of illness.
Sipping warm soup can clear the sinuses because of the steam ventilating into the nasal passages, serving as a natural decongestant, which also relieves cold and flu symptoms. Last but not least, chicken soup can be beneficial due to the placebo effect of comfort foods.
2006-10-02 15:46:57 · answer #5 · answered by junaidi71 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It has always been known and now proven that chicken soup is good for getting better. there are many reasons ... the veggies, the chicken, the broth, and the spices. The combination of all these ingredients makes a magical wellness soup.
2006-10-02 15:43:53 · answer #6 · answered by KK 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There's a chemical in the chicken that helps with congestion. If the soup has garlic and onion in it, they're antiviral. If it has carrots in it then beta carotene helps strengthen the immune system. Chicken (esp. dark meat) is high in zinc which helps support a healthy immune system. Hot liquids help kill the viruses that live in your throat when you're sick. Lots of good reasons to eat chicken soup when you're sick!
2006-10-02 15:49:59 · answer #7 · answered by DawnDavenport 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the fat in the chicken broth has healing properties that no one really understands, they only know that it works. besides all that, the steam from the hot soup opens up your stuffy nose and lungs, the fluids loosen secretions and phlegm, and the noodles are fun to eat.
2006-10-02 18:21:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chicken soup is no better or worse for you than any other soup. That's just an old wives tale. Any soup helps you feel better because the hot steam rising from the soup temporarily clears your nostrils.
2006-10-02 15:44:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just not sure exactly WHY it works but it certainly seems to work remarkably well.
It does appear there are antibotic properties that exist in the broth (from the chicken somehow)
2006-10-02 15:45:17 · answer #10 · answered by EZMZ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋