A man has taken to TikTok to share that he knows that when you’re feeling sick, all you want is to ‘feel warm, comforted and get better’ – and he’s here to explain why chicken soup can help
Ever wondered if the old wives’ tale about chicken soup being a cure-all for feeling under the weather is ‘true’?
Well, one bloke believes he’s cracked it. There’s nothing quite like a hot bowl of comforting soup when you’re not feeling your best. But did you know that certain soups actually contain properties that can help fight off colds and flu? However, it has to be from a specific source, or you won’t reap any benefits.
TikTok user @tonichealth shared his thoughts on the matter, understanding that when people are ill, they want to “feel warm, comforted and get better”. But does chicken soup really have the power to restore us back to health?
“Most of you turn to chicken soup – it’s an absolute classic, but is it a myth? Or is it real?” he questioned, while showing supermarket-bought chicken soup.
He went on to reveal: “Well, the truth is that chicken is really high in carnosine, which is a compound made up of amino acids that have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections.”
“It’s a really really good healthy thing”, he added, but he also had a word of caution for those feeling poorly, stating that supermarket chicken soups just won’t do the trick.
“These chicken soups in the supermarket only have about 6% chicken in, so you are not going to get enough carnosine to actually help with a cold or the flu. You have to get that from real [homemade] chicken soup”, he advised.
He cheekily suggested that you rope in “mum or your grandma to make it for you” or anyone else who’s looking after you when you’re under the weather.
All Recipes makes it sound like a doddle to whip up chicken soup yourself, reminding us that “you don’t have to be sick to deserve to enjoy it”.
What you’ll need is a roasted chicken, some veggies, and your choice of seasonings. In essence, you create the stock by simmering the chicken and veggies until the meat is tender enough to fall off the bone.
Once done, take out the chicken, chop it up, binning the skin and bones. Sieve the veggies but keep the liquid gold that’s your stock.
Chop them up too. Give the pot a quick wash, then pop everything back in, warm it all up, and season it just how you like it.
