Chicken soup is known as healing soup when it comes to combat virus, cold, or fever. Almost everyone I know has eaten chicken soup, or have their favorite version, or use a recipe passed down from a family member. This versatile dish is easily customized, from adding noodles, rice, orzo, ginger, lemon, or dumplings- the list goes on.
When I was little, chicken soup was what my mom gave me whenever I felt under the weather. It was my healing soup, my comfort food and my medicine.
If you ever wonder why chicken soup is powerful, the answer is the ingredients. I'm a firm believer that ingredients matter. So when you put organic and fresh ingredients on your plate, when your food contains no preservatives, no additives, or unnecessary chemicals, you've got the fuel you need to fight illness and strengthen your immune system.
These are 6 healing ingredients we need in chicken soup:
1. Chicken
Of course it's in the name, so your chicken is obviously a big part of the soup. We suggest buying whole organic farm raised (if possible, locally grown) chicken for the best health benefits.
According to the USDA, chicken is a great source of energy, protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. They are rich in vitamins such as vitamin C which is a good source to increase your immune system, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12 for energy, vitamin A, E, D, and K.
2. Onions
Hold your tears friends! Onions have so many health benefits. They are rich in antioxidants. One medium onion provides about 20% of your daily vitamin C needs, and between 5 and 10% of DV for B6, folate, potassium, and manganese. Too many tears while cutting onions? Here's a tip: cut them under running water to avoid eye irritation.
3. Carrots
Carrots are a classic addition in chicken soup, and here's why: carrots contain vitamins C and K, and other antioxidants and minerals. They are essentials not only to help build a healthy immune system to fight off viruses, it also helps your body recover from illness quickly. They also just add great flavor depth to the dish.
4. Celery
Antioxidants help protect cells from damage by free radicals. That's why celery is a great vegetable to add in your chicken soup. They protect those cells, blood vessels, and organs from oxidative damage.
Celery contains vitamin C, beta carotene, and flavonoids. There are at least 12 additional kinds of antioxidant nutrients found in a single stalk. It’s also a wonderful source of phytonutrients, which have been shown to reduce instances of inflammation in the digestive tract, cells, blood vessels, and organs.
5. Garlic
While used as a food-flavoring agent, garlic is still considered as a “natural antibiotic” by many cultures. It was known to ancient Egyptians and has been used both as a food flavoring and as a traditional medicine. Garlic is low in calories and rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese, which also high in antioxidant, and has anti-inflammatory properties.
6. Ginger
If there is one ingredient I always keep in my kitchen, it is ginger. We like to use it for cooking, for tea, or to make beverages. Ginger is used to aid digestion, combat stomach flu, and reduce inflammation. It is a diaphoretic, which means that it promotes sweating, so it works to warm the body from within.
Even though your doctor may not prescribe you with chicken soup when it comes to cold and fever, making a homemade chicken soup with all healing property ingredients will give you the most health benefits you can pass on to your self, and your loved ones. Bon Appetit!
BONUS:
Chicken soup recipes we love:
- Cleansing ginger chicken soup.
Sources:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=14
https://www.health.com/nutrition/health-benefits-onions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlic
https://chopra.com/articles/8-incredible-health-benefits-of-ginger