The Benefits of Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup for Cold and Flu Season
Categories: HEALTH
There is evidence that soups have healing qualities. There's a reason why, for instance, chicken noodle soup made in the Jewish manner with matzo balls is sometimes referred to as "penicillin" and why it's connected to grandmothers, sustenance, warmth, and soulfulness. Our food culture has a hazy but ingrained belief that chicken noodle soup can provide a solution more akin to home cooking than the pill capsule, a belief that dates back in time.
Hippocrates, a physician in ancient Greece, advocated using food as medicine. Though it is possible, we rarely think of food as medication. When preparing meals, certain cultures place a greater emphasis on the therapeutic and digestive qualities of the food. Consider the aperitif and digestif cultures of Europe, where liqueurs assist you prepare for meals or aid in digestion afterward. In Chinese culture, among many other varied considerations, many diners consider the warming and cooling effects of food.
Foods contain a wide variety of chemical constituents. Some have hundreds, like dark chocolate. Many foods can reliably change your mood, thinking, and/or how your body functions because of their ingredients. Consider how you feel when you consume a turkey leg that contains tryptophan or a cup of chamomile tea that contains sedatives.
Think about how satisfied you are after a cup of chicken noodle soup from an even wider perspective. In particular on a chilly afternoon. It warms you in a variety of ways. When we examine closer, we may find that there is some ancient magic at work. However, other factors, such as consuming food prepared by kind individuals, sharing meals with others, and consuming nutritious whole foods that are simply prepared, are also probably to blame.
The Benefits of Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup for Cold and Flu Season
A research investigation revealed the anti-inflammatory benefits of chicken noodle soup. By limiting the movement of white blood cells in the upper respiratory tract, it specifically decreases congestion.
Chicken noodle soup is often recommended as a home remedy for cold and flu season.
Here are some benefits of homemade chicken noodle soup for cold and flu season:
Hydration: For a number of reasons, chicken soup is beneficial when you have a cold. It first aids in keeping you hydrated. When you're unwell, you should drink at least eight glasses of fluid each day. In addition, the steam from chicken soup helps clear up a sore throat and nose. And finally, some scientists think that components of chicken soup lessen the inflammation brought on by colds.
Chicken noodle soup contains a lot of liquid, which helps keep you hydrated when you have a cold or flu. Staying hydrated is important when you're sick because it helps to flush out toxins and keep your mucus membranes moist.
Anti-inflammatory properties: Cysteine, an amino acid found in chicken, is released during the preparation of the soup. This amino acid contains anti-inflammatory characteristics that may help lessen respiratory system irritation and improve breathing.
Immune-boosting nutrients: Numerous components, including vitamins and minerals, included in chicken noodle soup can strengthen your immune system. Carrots and celery are two veggies in the soup that are rich in antioxidants that can help shield your body from damage caused by free radicals.
Soothing properties: Chicken noodle soup's warmth might help relieve nasal congestion and a sore throat. Additionally, the steam from the soup may aid in thinning mucus and ease breathing difficulties.
Comforting: Finally, if you're feeling under the weather, homemade chicken noodle soup can be a warming and filling supper. It is simple to digest and can give your body the nutrition it needs to fend off infection.
As the renowned study demonstrates, homemade soup is a fantastic choice. There are numerous varieties of chicken soup, all of which have global origins. Even more anti-inflammatory substances, such ginger, are included in some. Many aren't that difficult to produce.
The Best Soups for Fighting a Cold:
1. Turkey and Dumpling Soup: Use leftover turkey in this substantial soup with fluffy buttermilk dumplings cooked directly on top, along with veggies and vegetables.
2. Carrot Ginger Soup: Ginger aids in reducing nausea and inflammation. Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. These components, along with the addition of carrots and garlic, suggest a possibility for preventing heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer, as well as possibly easing the symptoms of depression and arthritis. This vegan carrot ginger soup is delicious and light.
3. Bean Counter Chowder: One of the most popular vegetarian recipes is this substantial chowder. It is particularly warming on a chilly day since it is packed with beans, noodles, and vibrant herbs.
4. Pasta Fagioli Soup: Italian sausage, pasta, beans and tomatoes are all prominent ingredients in the classic Italian dish known as Pasta Fagioli Soup. Better than Olive Garden's, the dinner is simple, wholesome and great for a busy evening. Warm bowls can be served with a side of garlic breadsticks, a traditional Caesar salad, or crusty bread.
5. Comforting Chicken Noodle Soup: The inclusion of potatoes, thyme, oregano, and simple pre-cooked rotisserie chicken makes it creamy yet light. Try it for yourself if you're seeking for a simple yet tasty homemade creamy chicken noodle soup.
6. Italian Beef Vegetable Soup: To use up all that summer food, make this filling vegetable beef soup, which is loaded with fresh vegetables. In cooler temperatures, it's also wonderful.
8. Hearty Split Pea Soup: Try this recipe for split pea soup with corned beef for a novel twist on classic pea soup. The flavour is a delicious change of pace because it is peppery rather than smoky.
9. Maryland-Style Crab Soup: Try this substantial soup that combines savoury crab with the best of vegetable soup. I cut up whole crabs and their claws and add them to the soup to cook before serving it with saltine crackers and a cool beer.
Overall, homemade chicken noodle soup can be a comforting and effective home remedy for cold and flu season. It can help keep you hydrated, boost your immune system, and soothe your symptoms, all while providing a nourishing and comforting meal.
What to eat when you’re dehydrated
When you're ill and feeling lousy, you might not be hungry or feel like you can't swallow anything. But if you don't eat or drink, dehydration can develop very quickly.
Fever is a typical flu symptom, and when you have a fever, your body tries to reduce your body temperature by making you sweat. You need to replenish the water you lose via perspiration in order to prevent dehydration and keep your cells operating normally.
When you sweat, you also lose electrolytes including salt, calcium, and potassium. You can hydrate more quickly with electrolyte-containing drinks like Gatorade and Pedialyte than with water.
Additionally to delivering essential nutrients and being gentle on the stomach, broths can help you stay hydrated. You may make a protein-rich chicken noodle soup to help you maintain your strength by adding cooked chicken, noodles, and vegetables to that broth.
You can hydrate with hot tea. Additionally, it might ease a sore throat.
Avoid beverages with caffeine or sugar, which might further dehydrate you, when choosing a beverage.
Dehydration is frequently a major factor in illness and poor health, says Dunn. "It could be that you're passing gas or needing to use the loo every five minutes. Or perhaps your condition is so bad that you aren't even hungry.
However, one of the main causes is dehydration.
If you're really dehydrated, you can go unconscious and fall and smash your head. Rapid medical intervention is necessary for moderate to severe dehydration. Dehydration can result in seizures, bladder or renal issues, and could be life-threatening if addressed.
There are several ailments you may contract now that the cold, flu, RSV, and COVID-19 seasons are in full swing. So it's time to fill your cupboard with the nourishing meals that will help your body's immune system stay robust.
What you should eat and drink to rehydrate yourself or prevent dehydration are listed below:
Calories, protein and vitamins: It is a good source of electrolytes and liquids as well. Try other kinds of soups and broths for more calories and hydration if this classic soup doesn't sound appetising to you. Additionally, when served hot, soup in general can function as a natural decongestant. Foods that primarily contain liquid. Aim for items that are primarily liquid yet served cold or frozen if you have trouble drinking fluids. Try desserts like pudding, ice cream, popsicles, and Jell-O.
Soup: There's a reason why most people turn to chicken noodle soup when they're feeling under the weather. Since it includes more than ordinary water, it usually feels more full.
Beverages: Any kind of beverage will aid in preventing dehydration, whether it is hot, cold, or room temperature. Simply attempt to consistently sip beverages throughout the day. Consider drinking carbonated water, electrolyte or sports drinks, coffee, tea, juice, or soda.
Fruit: Even when you aren't ill, your body requires the numerous essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in fresh fruit. Fruit can hydrate you and provide you a nutrient boost when you're feeling under the weather. Choose juicy fruits with a high water content, such as grapes, melons, berries, and oranges.
The following fruits & vegetables are heavy on the water content:
1. Cucumbers: Use fresh cucumbers to hydrate and nourish your skin. Cucumbers are high in anti-inflammatory chemicals that assist the body eliminate waste and lessen skin irritation in addition to being 95% water by weight. Cucumbers may also boost anti-aging and anti-wrinkling effects, according to preliminary study. They are available at your neighbourhood grocery store or farmers market. To reduce redness and puffiness beneath the eyes, apply frozen cucumber slices on the area for 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Watermelon: 91% of the watermelon flesh is water. Lycopene, which can help prevent cells from sun damage and enhance your complexion, is also rich in this summertime delicacy.
3. Iceberg lettuce: Since this particular variety of lettuce contains 95% water, the "ice" might as well be melted. It serves as a fantastic hydrating base for your summer salad as a result. But iceberg lettuce lacks some of the punch that other lush greens have. Spinach is a fantastic substitute if you prefer the heart-healthy advantages of leafy greens instead because it is 91% water by weight.
4. Celery: Your yearning for crunch will be satiated by this fibrous vegetable. At 95% water by weight, it shares a tie with cucumbers and iceberg lettuce. Considering celery's low calorie content and high vitamin K, folate, and potassium content, you can feel good about eating it. Additionally, according to Zumpano, celery juice is a rich source of numerous vitamins and minerals, including:
Calcium: 94.4mg (7% of daily value).
Magnesium: 26 mg (6% of daily value).
Phosphorus: 56.6 mg (5% of daily value).
Sodium: 189 mg (8% of daily value).
Vitamin A: 51.9 mcg (6% of daily value).
Vitamin B-6: 0.175 mg (10% of daily value).
Vitamin C: 7.32 mg (8% of daily value).
Vitamin K: 69.1 mcg (58% of daily value).