#Let's have some dry goods##Universal Life Guide##Headlines are true##鸡汤#
It is common practice to prepare a bowl of chicken soup for a loved one when they are sick. Nowadays, almost many people are convinced that chicken soup is good for physical recovery. Is there any scientific basis to support this idea? Or is chicken soup just a placebo that provides psychological comfort when we are sick with no actual therapeutic benefit?
1. Chicken broth improves appetite and makes food digestible better
Studies have shown that taste is the key to the healing properties of chicken soup. We all know that boiled chicken soup has a very delicious umami taste. This is essential for patients who have poor appetite because they have upper respiratory tract disease. Appetite is reduced due to the inflammatory response triggered by the acute illness. Not wanting to eat means that we may not be able to get adequate nutrition, and insufficient nutrient intake is very detrimental to the recovery of immunity and physical recovery. And the umami flavor of chicken broth helps to stimulate the appetite.
One study showed that many patients felt hungrier after tasting chicken broth, which led to an increased appetite. Other studies have shown that the umami flavor of chicken broth can also improve the digestion of nutrients. Once our brain senses umami stimulation through taste receptors on the tongue, our gut secretes more digestive juices, making it easier for protein to absorb. This can alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms that many people experience when they are unwell. Although most people don't associate upper respiratory tract infections with gastrointestinal symptoms, studies in children have found that the flu virus can exacerbate symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
2. Chicken soup can reduce inflammation and relieve cold symptoms
Inflammation is the body's natural response to disease and occurs when white blood cells migrate to inflamed tissues to help the body recover. When this inflammatory process occurs in the upper respiratory tract, symptoms of the common cold and flu appear, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, etc. Conversely, decreasing the activity of white blood cells in the nasal passages can reduce the inflammatory response. Interestingly, studies have shown that chicken broth can actually reduce the number of white blood cells flowing to inflamed tissues. It does this by directly inhibiting the ability of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, to travel to inflamed tissue.
3. The main ingredient of chicken broth
To truly understand the soothing and healing benefits of chicken broth, it's important to consider the ingredients in the chicken broth. Not all chicken broths are packed with nutritional benefits. For example, deep-processed, canned chicken soup lacks many of the antioxidants found in homemade chicken broth. And most canned chicken broth contains little to no fresh vegetables. The core nutrients of chicken soup are different from those of canned soup. Among them, chicken provides the body with sufficient protein to fight infection. Vegetables provide a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These nutrients are very beneficial for the body's energy replenishment, which in turn promotes the body's recovery.
And warm chicken broth is also good for the respiratory tract. Drinking chicken broth and inhaling vapors increases the temperature of the nasal passages and respiratory tract, which relaxes the muscles of the respiratory tract. Studies have shown that chicken broth dissolves mucus from the respiratory tract more effectively than drinking hot water alone. Chicken broth is rich in water and electrolytes, which help the body rehydrate.
In conclusion, the latest scientific research has shown that chicken soup, although it is not a complete cure for colds and flu, does help the body to heal.