What is the secret of Chinese chicken soup?
Are you sick, weak or nauseous? A bowl full of warm chicken soup is the answer. Chinese chicken soup, to be precise, because it is supposedly the most healing of them all. Is that actually true? And what makes it so?
A while ago, I cycled through pouring rain to an appointment. I arrived chilled to the bone and within five minutes there was a steaming bowl of chicken soup in front of me. I could feel myself getting stronger just from holding the bowl.
The secret of Chinese chicken soup
Is it the placebo effect or the heartwarming fact that someone has prepared a bowl of chicken soup for you? Or are there medical reasons for it?
Hydration
When you’re not feeling well, it’s extremely important to stay well hydrated. So even if there’s absolutely nothing healthy in chicken soup, the fact that you’re taking in fluids is at least a big plus.
Chicken
Why does chicken soup in particular have such a good reputation? And not vegetable or beef soup? Chicken contains carnosine, which according to research reduces that unpleasant full feeling in your chest and throat. It may also have an anti-inflammatory effect by stopping the migration of white blood cells. The benefits of carnosine only work when the soup is actually in your body, so keep on eating.
Chicken also contains the amino acid cysteine, which is similar in composition to acetylcysteine. This is a medicine prescribed for bronchitis and respiratory infections to reduce mucus.
Ginger
A major difference between French and Chinese chicken soup? Ginger. In recent years, ginger has been enthusiastically embraced as a superfood, to the point that people are even downing those outrageously expensive ginger shots. What exactly is ginger good for when you have a cold?
Research shows that ginger also has an anti-inflammatory effect, exactly what you need when you’re ill. It’s also packed with antioxidants and may help with nausea. Do you have a stomach ache? Increase the dose of ginger, as it can help reduce stomach pain.
Chinese herbs
Anyone who really wants to go all out can visit a Chinese herbalist. There you’ll find jars full of miracle remedies that will supposedly get you back on your feet, according to the Chinese, at least. Huái shan (dried Chinese yam) combats fatigue and helps with diarrhea. Yù zhú (Solomon’s seal) is said to help with a dry cough and sore throat, while dang shēn reduces shortness of breath, palpitations and coughing. The latter is also said to help restore your appetite.
So?
All those active ingredients in Chinese chicken soup are great, but whether there’s enough in a bowl of soup to actually make you feel better has unfortunately never been proven. It contains many ingredients that are really good for you, but it certainly isn’t a miracle cure. I say, keep eating. It can’t hurt, and the placebo effect is an effect too.
In China, they’ve known it for longer: are you even too sick for chicken soup? Then you should make this soup.
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