Can Chicken Soup Heal a Cold?

Chicken soup is probably one of the most famous “grandmother remedies” in the world. Beyond its comforting taste, the warmth, fluids, and steam may help when you have a cold, and researchers have even studied the subject.

Drinking warm liquids may provide temporary relief from symptoms such as a runny nose, congestion, coughing, and a sore throat. The steam rising from the soup, along with its warmth, may also make breathing through the nose feel easier and more comfortable.

Staying hydrated is important when you are sick. Soup provides fluids, and when it contains vegetables, chicken, and a little salt, it also provides nutrients and sodium. This can be especially helpful when you do not have much of an appetite.

Is There Scientific Evidence?

One well known laboratory study found that chicken soup may affect the movement of certain immune cells involved in the inflammatory process. However, because this was a laboratory study, it does not prove that chicken soup actually “cures” a cold.

Chicken soup is not a cure for the virus and will not necessarily shorten the duration of an illness. But as a warm, hydrating, and nutritious food, it may certainly help relieve some cold symptoms and make you feel more comfortable while you recover.