The Monstress foody myth busters #2

Myth: chicken soup helps with a cold.

You’re sick. You have no appetite. Hell, you can’t even breathe, let alone eat. But your mother/gran/girlfriend insists that chicken soup will help you feel better.

Make sense, right?

Right!

A 12th century physician named Moses Maimonides first prescribed chicken soup as a cold remedy and scientists are now backing him up.

Firstly, sipping the hot soup and breathing in the steam helps clear up congestion.

The warm soup helps soothe the symptoms of a sore throat.

Liquid helps you stay hydrated.

Chicken soup has as an ‘anti-inflammatory’ effect on body cells, to help reduce mucus production (that means less snot).

Chicken soup also slows the migration of white blood cells (called neutrophils) to the infection site and slows down inflammation, which can help reduce congestion.

Bottom line: it’s not exactly a cure for the common cold but chicken soup will help a bit. Lap up all the TLC you can get, especially if it’s in a steaming bowl.