Soup is Good for Your Health

You've probably heard it before: chicken soup is good for the soul.

Is there any documented medical truth behind that?

It all started in the 12^th century, when ancient healers would tell their sick patients to consume the broth of fowl, believed to cure hemorrhoids, constipation, inflammation and nasal congestion.

Some of these theories have been tested. One theory that proved itself was that chicken soup actually does decrease nasal decongestion by inhibiting the inflammation of cells within the nasal passageways which can lead to sore throats, phlegm, and other cold symptoms. Soup has been shown to slow the flow of nasal secretions and helps to reduce existing congestion.

When you're not feeling good, it often feels good to eat something warm. Soup is a great way to warm up your body, but it can also be loaded with nutrients, if the right ingredients are used in the soup.

There is an amino acid in chicken called cysteine. This amino acid is released as the soup is made. This amino acid is similar to a medication that doctors often prescribe for bronchitis because it loosens and thins the mucus, making it easier to cough out.

Carrots contain high amounts of beta-carotene, which our bodied convert to Vitamin A. This vitamin helps to strengthen your immune system, fight off disease and infection, and keep white blood cells strong and powerful.

Onions, believe it or not, have an antioxidant in them, called quercetin, which acts as an anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory agent.

Homemade soup tends to be higher in nutrients than canned soup, so if possible, have a homemade soup when you are sick for best results. Use organic vegetables if they are available to you. There are herbicides and pesticides on regular produce that can actually hurt your immune system instead of helping it.

Soup has also been helping people to lose weight. In our society, the obese population is rising, which leads to many health conditions. To lose weight, it is recommended to eat a bowl of soup at least once a day. Soup can nourish you while allowing your body to eliminate excess waste products from your body. Studies have found that people who eat a cup of soup per day lose more weight than someone who consumes a different diet but with the same amount of calories.

Detoxifying your body is great for your liver, it lowers the amount of inflammation in the body, improves blood circulation, and allows the body to replenish itself with the things it really needs.

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/23125/soup-therapy-detoxify-lose-weight-and-boost-immunity/

http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/12/14/does-chicken-soup-have-healing-powers-004.htm