Warm their bellies with these delicious takes on chicken soup

From the hydrating broth, airway clearing steam and immunity boosting ingredients, a good bowl of chicken soup is the perfect winter warmer for your family!

Does chicken soup have medicinal benefits?

From the very first slurp, a good soup just makes you feel like you’re doing something good for your body. But is it really healthy?

In short, chicken soup has got the goods, according to a report by clinical dietitian, Sandy Allonen, studies have shown that a hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup “may help clear nasal congestion and ease cold symptoms.”

We all know that staying hydrated is an essential part of recovery when you’ve been unwell, and what better way to deliver those fluids that you need, than super charging them in the form of a good broth.

“A clear broth is warm and soothing, making it a great source of hydration while you’re sick, especially if you have a sore throat,” says Allonen.

“You may think added salt and other seasonings aren’t great for you, but in moderation, these spices can help combat the feeling of dull taste buds,” she noted. “A loss of taste is common in a cold, but as with any flavour enhancer, salt is great for getting you to eat more.

“Chicken is also high in tryptophan, which helps your body produce serotonin that can enhance your mood and give you the feeling of ‘comfort’ that helps make chicken noodle soup a true comfort food,” Allonen said.

The vitamins C and K, and other antioxidants and minerals that come from a good hit of carrots, celery, and onion also help!

“Not only do vegetables help build a healthy immune system to fight off viruses, they also help your body recover from illness more quickly,” Allonen said.

The steam alone from a warm bowl of your favourite chicken soup has medicinal benefits.

“Steam can open up airways, making it easier to breathe. It also has a mild anti-inflammatory effect that can help relax your muscles and soothe the discomforts of cold symptoms!”

10 of the best chicken soup recipes

We’ve scoured the archives of the incredible team at New Idea Food to bring you some of the warmest, healthiest, slurpiest chicken soup recipes to warm up your bellies this flu season in the gallery below.

Bon appetit!