There are few things better for you than broth. My mother is the ultimate Broth Queen and when we were down with a cold, chicken soup was always on the menu. But why is chicken broth so good for you when you're sick?
- When cooked, chicken releases an amino acid called cysteine, which helps to breakdown proteins found in the mucous that settles in the lungs.
- Cysteine converts to glutathione, a very powerful antioxidant, that not only protects your from the negative effects of free radicals -- it also carries nutrients to your immune system cells.
- Carrots, one of the typical vegetable ingredients found in chicken soup, are the best natural source of beta-carotene, the precursor for Vitamin A. Vitamin A helps fight off infections by giving your white blood cells a boost.
- Onions, another chicken soup ingredient, contain quercetin, another verypowerful anti-oxidant. Quercetin also acts as a natural anti-histamine and decongestant.
- Chicken broth also contains loads of minerals in a form the body can absorb easily—e.g. calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur and trace minerals.
Sounds like a superfood? You bet! Here's the recipe:
- 800g hormone-free chicken feet or 1 kg beef marrow bones
- 2 carrots
- 1 onion
- 2 celery stalks
- 2 tbspns unpasteurized apple cider
- knob of ginger
- 1/2 tspn pepper
- bunch of parsley
- 6 garlic cloves
- 2L water approx.
- bit of salt & pepper
Put it all in the biggest pot you've got and add the water. Bring to boil and simmer gently for as long as you can. Some say you need to boil bones for 24 hours but DON'T LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD. 3-4 hours will do and if you can give it a bit more time -- great!
Thrive Nutrition Practice launches in Spring 2016.