A collection of healthy chicken soup recipes can be found here.
Why is chicken soups healthy?
Chicken soup relieves coughs and sore throats because the gentle heat from the soup improves blood circulation near the throat and windpipe. It also helps eliminate any bacteria or viruses entering the system through the throat and windpipe.
The chicken and any vegetables used also provide much needed supplements to boost the immunity system and nourish the body.
Chicken is a good source of carnosine, an anti-oxidant. Carnosine is already been taken in the form of health supplements in some countries. But a better way to supplement is to take it naturally in the form of a chicken soup.
And, it is not just the Chinese who likes to use chicken to make soup. Many cultures have also recognized its efficacy, especially for colds and flu.
Kampong chicken
For soups that are going to be simmered, try to use kampong chickens. Kampong means village in the Malay language. An equivalent name in English should be free range and organic.
Photo source: Evelyn
Simak
Kampong or free range, these chickens are raised in the open and they roam freely. We appreciate these chickens more after hearing horror stories and seeing horrible footage of chickens raised in cramped and packed conditions and loaded with growth hormones and antibiotics.
Chicken soup recipes
Many chinese chicken soups use the whole chicken without deboning it. Most will remove the head, neck, feet and butt and give the skin a good rub under running water to remove any small feathers still attached. Recipes using whole chicken include Easy chicken soup recipe with bok choy and honey dates.
Hearty soups without the fats such as Low fat chicken soup with fresh chinese yam and arrowroot.
The Chinese loves a certain breed of chicken known as the silkie chicken for its high medicinal value. It is also known as the black chickens 乌鸡 or black-boned chicken 乌骨鸡. If you are concerned about the level of cholesterol in a normal chicken, try the silkie instead.
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