One more reason to love chicken soup
U.S. adults average four to six colds a year, so the chances are pretty good that at some point this winter, you're going to be contending with sniffles, coughing and sinus pain (or have already).
Our favorite remedy? Chicken soup. Although there aren't double-blind placebo-controlled studies looking at the effect of chicken soup on curing a cold, there has been some clever research. One study from the late '70s found that enjoying chicken soup helped unplug stuffy noses by increasing what is called (we kid you not) nasal mucus velocity. They actually can measure that! Other studies have revealed that chicken soup has anti-inflammatory powers, perhaps from a combination of the effects of the hot broth and nutrient-packed veggies it contains.
Now, we know zinc lozenges work to shorten common cold and upper respiratory infection symptoms (about as well as chicken soup does), but they may pose a serious risk to your health. The study in The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal that demonstrated zinc supplements' effectiveness also says that essential heavy metals such as copper, manganese and zinc can increase the risk for dementia -- and zinc was seen to boost that risk over a couple of decades by more than 35%.
So, cook up some skinless chicken breasts and then combine them with low-sodium chicken broth and fresh celery, carrots and onions. Toss in some rice or noodles if you like. And inhale as you ingest this soothing, symptom-quieting "medicine" for your cold. For more info, check out Dr. Mike's book "What to Eat When."
Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).
(c)2024 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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