Something that warms you up is good when you have a cold – for example a stew. Some people are even convinced that chicken soup like grandma’s makes me get back on my feet quicker. Is there something to that?
Nose is tight, throat is scratchy, body is weak: Anyone who has a cold wants the annoying symptoms to disappear as quickly as possible. Couldn’t grandma’s chicken soup perhaps contribute to this?
Effects have so far only been proven in test tubes
Even if some people swear by the home remedy, when it comes to scientific evidence for it, it becomes thin. The Health Knowledge Foundation points out that the effects of chicken soup have so far only been studied in the laboratory, but not on humans. Although there is evidence of an anti-inflammatory effect in the test tube, there is no evidence of its effectiveness in humans.
According to the Health Knowledge Foundation, examining them wouldn’t be that easy. After all, a lot of ingredients come together in a soup like this – from chicken with various fatty acids to vegetables such as celery, carrots or leeks with their nutrients. It is difficult to research how these individual components affect individual immune defense mechanisms.
Hot liquids help loosen mucus
So does the soup do absolutely nothing? That cannot be said either. Because it is hot, it stimulates blood circulation in the tissue. Many people find this beneficial when they have a cold, according to the Health Knowledge Foundation. Warm liquids can also help mucus to loosen and drain better.
By the way, a small study actually examined the effect of chicken soup on nasal mucus. According to the Health Knowledge Foundation, the results show that the soup can temporarily make the nasal mucus more liquid so that it drains better. However, hot water also has a similar effect.
So you don’t necessarily have to eat chicken when you have a cold. A vegan “chicken soup” is also likely to have a beneficial effect due to its high temperature.
Read more on Techzle\.com:
- Which foods can help with a cold – and which you should avoid
- Cold tea: These varieties help against coughs, colds and sore throats
- Cold? These 6 herbal home remedies help with colds
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