If you are expecting a simple answer on whether chicken soup is healthy, the matter is not that simple. Despite the widespread belief in the benefits of this soup, there are no definitive proofs, let alone that chicken soup cures a cold.

Laboratory tests do show that chicken soup contains ingredients that prevent inflammation, but the amounts are really small.

Another big problem is that everyone has their own recipe for medicinal chicken soup. And perhaps that's where the agreement lies. The fact is, when we have a cold, hot things are always welcome. In addition, chicken soup strengthens the mucous membrane and stimulates blood circulation. Vegetables further strengthen the body and immune system, giving the body energy and speeding up recovery.

We must not forget about the placebo effect (after all, grandmothers know what's good for us).

Regardless of the recipe, grandma's chicken soup is always full of antioxidants, fiber, minerals, and even vitamins. A bowl of chicken soup definitely provides the body with the necessary nutrients needed to combat illness, which is crucial during recovery.

A study from the year 2000 in the US confirmed that a soup made from chicken, lots of vegetables, parsley, carrots, and onions, prevents the action of white blood cells that cause inflammation in the body, while also reducing mucus flow. As a result, airways become more open.

Another study from 1978 on a sample of 15 volunteers confirmed that chicken soup significantly reduces the feeling of a stuffy nose, but this effect only lasts for 30 minutes. At the same time, the same study showed that a glass of hot water has a similar effect.

A whole series of studies on the effects of herbal teas have come to similar conclusions. Apart from hydration, there are no other significant effects. To cure only with teas, one would have to drink enormous amounts of high-concentration herbs, which you won’t find in an average tea bag.

The overall conclusion from all these studies is that hot water is equally as effective as chicken soup.