The Best Healthy Chicken Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How healthy is homemade chicken soup? ›

The best chicken soup recipes are chock-full of veggies like carrots, celery and onions — all of which are rich in vitamins C and K, not to mention other antioxidants and minerals. Vitamin C is a nutrient your body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle and collagen in your bones.

Known to all, chicken is considered to be a great source of protein and amino acids that are really good for the growth of muscles and other tissues. Hence, a bowl of chicken soup can be a great addition in your daily diet.

Also, chicken soup is an easy way to get important micronutrients, macronutrients, and fluids when you're sick and may not have an appetite for other foods. “Chicken soup can be an easy and soothing way to get in some protein, carbs, and veggies when we're otherwise limited,” said Collier. Dr.

Try these tips to make your soup even healthier:

Use unprocessed whole foods, especially vegetables, beans, and grains, for the most vitamins and minerals. Skip the salt. Lemon juice and vinegar will brighten the flavor of your soup without adding sodium. Herbs add flavor, antioxidants, and vitamins.

According to the Taste Atlas Awards, the international food database, the Filipino favorite, Sinigang, is hailed as the best soup in the world.

It can be consumed as is, and although many people drink broth as well, it does not contain as much collagen, vitamins, minerals and anti-inflammatory benefits as found in stock. That said, it can be used in many of the same ways as stock, and is often found as a main ingredient in recipes for soups and stir-fries.

What is the chicken soup diet? ›

The chicken soup diet involves eating chicken soup for every meal except breakfast and lasts for 7 days. For breakfast you have the choice of five low calorie options – non-fat milk and yoghurt, fat free cheese, whole-grain cereal or bread and fresh fruit.

Since chicken noodle soup is broth-based, most canned products are already low in fat. But Frost urges consumers to check the label for sodium and protein. About 10 grams of protein per can is a good target. Anything higher is a bonus, she said, since protein keeps you fuller longer.

For clear, brothy soups, stock is your most important ingredient. If you want to make a good soup, you need to use an excellently flavored stock — otherwise, the entire pot could be tasteless.

Add some chopped cooked chicken, loads of chopped parsley, simmer a bit more and season. Add some veggies like onions, celery, and carrots to give it a heartier flavor. And don't forget herbs like thyme and bay leaves for an extra kick!

When chicken cooks in soup, an amino acid called cysteine is released. Cysteine thins mucus in the lungs, aiding in chest decongestion and faster healing. Chicken also provides a great source of protein that is particularly helpful to muscles when your body feels weakened and drained during illness.

Compared with hot water alone, studies show chicken soup is more effective at loosening mucus. The herbs and spices sometimes used in chicken soup, such as pepper and garlic, also loosen mucus. The broth, which contains water and electrolytes, helps with rehydration.

One notable study showed that chicken soup diminishes the presence of white blood cells associated with inflammation in upper respiratory conditions that often plague cold sufferers, suggesting that it encourages a more effective immune response and helps symptoms clear up quicker.

However, on average, a basic bowl of chicken soup (made with chicken, vegetables, and broth) might contain anywhere from 100 to 200 calories per serving, depending on factors such as the amount of chicken, vegetables, and added fats like oil or butter.