MY GRANDMA’S REMEDIES: CHICKEN SOUP
When you are ill, it doesn’t take long for someone to suggest a bowl of chicken soup. It’s not just an old wives’ tale, it really does work. Research is inconclusive as to whether it actually cures a cold, but it has been shown to relieve the symptoms.
Chicken is high in an amino acid called cysteine, which has been shown to thin the mucus in the respiratory tract, helping to clear your throat. It also contains carnosine – an amino acid that can help the body’s immune system fight off a cold or flu before it sets in.
Research has found that homemade soup (including onions, carrots and turnips) is the most effective meal to help relieve a cold, but some shop-bought soups also help.
Any hot liquid will help to increase the movement of nasal mucus and clear the airways. Even if chicken soup doesn’t cure your cold, it can lift your mood, so it’s worth having a good recipe to hand.
Chicken is high in an amino acid called cysteine, which has been shown to thin the mucus in the respiratory tract, helping to clear your throat. It also contains carnosine – an amino acid that can help the body’s immune system fight off a cold or flu before it sets in.
Research has found that homemade soup (including onions, carrots and turnips) is the most effective meal to help relieve a cold, but some shop-bought soups also help.
Any hot liquid will help to increase the movement of nasal mucus and clear the airways. Even if chicken soup doesn’t cure your cold, it can lift your mood, so it’s worth having a good recipe to hand.