Why Does Soup Help Us Feel Better?

Does soup make you feel better? Anyone in Williamsport, PA who’s ever caught a cold and eaten chicken soup as a response likely agrees! However, homemade soup’s soothing effects are not all in your head. There is scientific evidence showing soup does help us feel better. Here are five ways soup contributes to your overall health and wellness:

• Clears your sinuses: If you caught an upper respiratory infection, soup makes it more bearable. Chicken soup, in particular, reduces congestion by slowing down neutrophils. These are white blood cells that control infection by increasing inflammation and mucus production. When neutrophils slow down, you feel fewer symptoms since mucus and inflammation decrease. Steam from the soup is also therapeutic—just as a hot shower helps your sinuses, so does soup. The same effect also makes allergies more bearable, so if you have a terrible hay fever day, order some homemade soup.
• Helps your immune system: Your nose contains small hairs called cilia. They move back and forth to keep your nose from running and catch allergens and contagions, so you do not suffer symptoms or develop an illness. Some soup recipes, especially chicken soup, contain vitamins that improve cilia, so you suffer fewer colds and allergies. Another way soup helps your immune system is by supporting the mucociliary transport system. That system allows infections to leave your respiratory tract, and if you support it by eating your favorite soup, you will feel better more quickly.
• Hydration: Soup is largely liquid, which helps with staying hydrated. Fluid intake is essential when you are sick, and with little in the way of appetite or energy, soup offers both sustenance and hydration. Salt in soup encourages you to drink more, so you keep up on those needed fluids. The liquids and salt also soothe a sore throat. If you have a hard time drinking liquid and need something more substantial, soup is likely your best bet.
• Vitamins and minerals: Soups offer all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that support wellness. Selenium, antioxidants and vitamins A and C are just a few minerals that help you feel better when you are sick and protect you from infection during your healthier days. If you choose a soup with noodles, those add carbohydrates that provide the necessary energy for your immune system or merely get you through a demanding day.
• Multiple pairing options: Sometimes, the most comforting thing about soup is what else you eat with it. If you need more filler, add artisan bread, crackers, sandwiches or cookies to your soup meal. For those bad days, add lemon balm, lemon cookies or lemon and ginger tea to help you feel better overall.

Chances are, you already know the answer to the question, “Does soup make you feel better?” But not all of us can enjoy a bowl of homemade soup and take full advantage of all of its benefits. Tony’s Delicatessen & Fresh Meats in Williamsport, PA offers eight homemade soup varieties to help get you through a bad cold or simply feel better after a tough day. Check out our menu and call us today to place your order.

Categorised in: Soup

This post was written by Writer