Does chicken soup really cure colds?
The case study for the popular home remedy is weak – but even scientists recommend it.
Helps you get up on your feet faster: good old-fashioned chicken soup.
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It is one of the oldest home remedies – chicken soup. However, it is still largely unknown why it is supposed to relieve colds and coughs.
After all, there are separate scientific studies that indicate a positive effect. 20 years ago, an American study found that chicken soup inhibits the activity of a group of immune cells, “neutrophil granulocytes”, and thus presumably an antibody.–It has an inflammatory effect. Small fly in the ointment: The study was conducted only in the laboratory, that is, not with humans, but in the laboratory.
Rich in protective substances
Although the case study is rare, there are good reasons to support chicken soup: Chicken meat also contains protein building blocks such as cysteine or carnosine, which act as antioxidants and can also suppress inflammation and protect the body’s cells.
In addition, various vegetables in the soup with their secondary vegetable matter strengthen the immune system.
But it may also be due to the beneficial effect of the hot, easily digestible liquid: “Hot soup boosts blood circulation and thins mucus — naturally.e “Without any side effects,” says David Fah, MD, a preventative doctor and nutritionist at Bern’s University of Applied Sciences.
Expert: David Fah (48 years old) is a preventative doctor and dietitian. He teaches and teaches at the University of Zurich and is a lecturer in nutrition at the Berne University of Applied Sciences. The medical professional has authored numerous publications and books (including “The Stress-Free Edition” and “Genussvoll gluten-frei”).
Photo: PD
However, Fäh sees the greatest benefit from chicken soup in the recovery phase: “Especially if someone has been sick for a long time and has experienced a loss of appetite, the nutrients in the soup can help regeneration.”
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