It’s cold and flu season, and it seems no one is immune – not even one of the top athletes playing in the Super Bowl! Many people believe that chicken soup can help fight a cold.

Is there any truth to this? Does chicken soup contain any healing properties to help cure the common cold?

Dr. Dahl:

Chicken soup contains a substance that can aid in alleviating the symptoms of the common cold and influenza. Chicken soup was found to inhibit the movement of neutrophils, a form of white blood cell that initiates the inflammatory response, which reduces upper respiratory cold symptoms. This inhibition results in fewer sore throats and lowers the production of phlegm. Lack of inflammation of the cells in the nasal passageway also eases nasal congestion.

Why do you think people believe that chicken soup can cure a cold?

Dr. Dahl:

People may believe that chicken soup can cure a cold because that’s what they have perhaps been told by family and friends. Most people want to believe there is something positive that can be done to help them and their families feel better when the cold or flu strikes.

So, bottom-line it for us: Does chicken soup cure the common cold?

Dr. Dahl:

Sorry, chicken soup may only alleviate symptoms of the common cold, not get rid of the cold itself!

We don’t know whether it’s part of the star QB’s strategy to get game-ready, but a nice hot bowl of chicken soup probably couldn’t hurt! There’s no indication, however, that chicken soup can help inflate footballs to the proper PSI.

Here are a couple of our favorite chicken soup recipes for game day and beyond:

Chicken Noodle Soup from Julie at Table for Two

Country Chicken & Buttermilk Soup from Carolyn O’Neil, MS, RD

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This comforting chicken soup is filled with vegetables and uses nonfat buttermilk and fat-free chicken broth instead of a heavier cream base. It’s as satisfying as chicken and dumplings, with none of the guilt!

Country Chicken & Buttermilk Soup

Prep time: 35 min.

Total time: 1 hour, 5 min.

Serves 6

Ingredients

2 skinned and boned chicken breast halves (about 1 1/2 lbs.)

5 cups reduced-sodium fat-free chicken broth

1 tbsp. butter

2 medium-size red potatoes, cut into wedges

1 celery rib, chopped

1/4 large white onion, coarsely chopped

1/2 carrot, peeled and chopped

1/2 cup fresh or frozen green peas

1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels

1 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

2 cups nonfat buttermilk

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. table salt

1/2 to 1 tsp. dried crushed red pepper

1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Bring chicken and broth to a boil in a large saucepan, and cook 5 to 7 minutes or until done. Drain, reserving 4 cups broth. Let chicken cool, and chop.

Melt butter in a Dutch oven; add potato wedges and next 3 ingredients, and sauté 3 to 4 minutes or until onion is tender. Add reserved broth, and simmer 30 minutes or until potato is tender. Add chicken, peas, corn, and parsley.

Stir together buttermilk and flour until smooth; add to potato mixture and cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes. Stir in salt, red pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Serve immediately.

Serving size 1 1/2 cups CALORIES 267; FAT 4.7g (sat 2.1g, mom 1.1g, poly 0.6g); PROTEIN 26.7g; CARB 30.1g; FIBER 2.8g; CHOL 56mg; IRON 1.7mg; SODIUM 543mg; CALC 124mg

Source: Southern Living The Slim Down South Cookbook

Reprinted with permission.

_{Image: “a hearty meal” by Jordanmit09 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.}

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To help decide whether chicken soup is the go-to food to cure a cold, we reached out to Wendy Dahl, PhD, RD, FDC, Assistant Professor of Food Science and Human Nutrition, at the University of Florida.

We’re in the height of cold and flu season, and many people believe in the power of chicken soup to help them fight a cold. Are there any known healing properties in chicken soup that could cure the common cold? If so, what are they?

Dr. Dahl:

There is a substance in chicken soup that can aid in alleviating the symptoms of the common cold and influenza. Chicken soup was found to inhibit the movement of neutrophils, a form of white blood cell that initiates the inflammatory response, which reduces upper respiratory cold symptoms. This inhibition results in fewer sore throats and lowers the production of phlegm. Also, nasal congestion is eased by the lack of inflammation of the cells in the nasal passageways.

Why do you think people subscribe to the belief that chicken soup can cure a cold?

Dr. Dahl:

People may believe that chicken soup can cure a cold, because that is what they have perhaps been told by family and friends. Most people want to believe there is something positive that can be done to help them and their families feel better.

Based on her expertise and the information she’s provided above, we asked Dr. Dahl to rate the following statement using our “True or Not Meter“.

“Chicken soup can cure the common cold.”

Dr. Dahl says that this statement is:

• True
• Plausible
• Unknown
• Misguided
• False – Sorry, chicken soup may only alleviate symptoms of the common cold, not get rid of the cold itself.

Even still, if it makes you feel better, go for it. Here is a chicken soup recipe we love, from Julie at Table for Two.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Yield: 4-6 servings | Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

2 tbsp. unsalted butter

1/2 large onion, diced

4 carrots, chopped

4 stalks of celery, chopped

5 boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins or 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed into 2″ squares

1/8 tsp. Italian seasoning

4 cups chicken stock

2 cups water

1/2 tsp. dried sage

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground pepper

1 bay leaf

6 oz. egg noodles

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a large stockpot, melt butter then sauté onion, carrots, and celery until soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken in and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Cook until chicken has mostly cooked through, about 5 minutes.

2. Add in the chicken stock, water, dried sage, salt and bayleaf. Bring to a boil, then let simmer for 30-40 minutes.

3. In the last five minutes of cooking, add in the egg noodles.

4. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

5. Serve hot!

6. Store in an airtight container.

The post I’m Sick. Can Chicken Soup Cure a Cold? appeared first on Best Food Facts.