Nobody enjoys dealing with the winter cold that’s making its rounds in the office or neighborhood. However, it’s something that happens to all of us. Despite our best efforts to stay healthy, there are times when we find ourselves feeling sick and seeking comfort in Netflix and sweatpants. And of course, soup! So, what is the most effective soup to eat when you’re under the weather?
At “Family Cuisine,” we are strong proponents of the healing power of warm soup on sick days. Whether you’re just slightly under the weather or battling a particularly nasty cold, we have compiled a list of the best soups to help you or your loved ones feel better.
Why Is Soup Beneficial for Colds?
Have you ever wondered why a warm bowl of soup always sounds appealing when you’re battling a cold? Well, there’s actually a scientific explanation for it. Dr. Stephen Rennard from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha conducted a study that discovered individuals who consumed chicken noodle soup while sick had an increased count of white blood cells. These cells play a crucial role in fighting infections, and by boosting their numbers, one can alleviate upper respiratory symptoms commonly associated with colds.
Another study revealed that consuming hot liquids, such as soup, leads to increased nasal mucus movement. Furthermore, soup enhances the function of cilia, the tiny hairlike projections in the nose that prevent pathogens from entering the body.
Moreover, most soups contain hot broth that is rich in vitamins, nutrient-packed vegetables, and offer a light and easily digestible meal, which is especially important when the body is unwell.
Now, let’s take a look at the soups that work their magic in making us feel better!
1. Chicken Noodle Soup
Let’s begin with a beloved classic comfort food. Homemade chicken noodle soup not only tastes fantastic, but it also provides relief for any cold. Hot chicken soup can soothe a sore throat and promote nasal clearance. You can enrich it with a variety of vitamin-rich vegetables and noodles to boost your immune system and leave you feeling satisfied. Check out our video recipe for chicken noodle soup!
2. Asian-Inspired Zoodle Flu Buster Soup
With its delightful flavors and unique textures, this zoodle flu buster soup stands out from the rest. The addition of anise seed, cumin, and five-spice powder lends it a distinctive taste. These spices are rich in antioxidants that strengthen the immune system. The soup also contains zucchini, yellow squash, and other nutritious ingredients packed with B-vitamins, which provide energy and possess anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Harvest Vegetable Soup
Hearty vegetable soups are crafted with an assortment of heart-healthy veggies and an array of herbs that bring garden-fresh flavors. This soup is not only great for combating a cold but is also an ideal choice for those seeking a healthy meal to combat fatigue.
4. Butternut Squash Soup
When you’re curled up in bed, looking for comfort and recovery, creamy and delicious butternut squash soup fits the bill perfectly. Butternut squash is a superfood as it contains cucurbitacins, an anti-inflammatory compound that helps combat viruses and bacteria. Additionally, it is packed with vitamin C, providing an extra boost to your immune system.
5. Tomato Basil Soup
Creamy tomato basil soup is another excellent choice for when you’re feeling under the weather or on a rainy day. Alongside its comforting qualities, this soup is brimming with antioxidants, plant compounds, vitamins, and minerals that support overall health, including improved skin and vision, better bone health, and even a potential reduction in the risk of heart disease.
6. Coconut Curry Soup
This soup recipe from Damn Delicious is quick to prepare, taking less than half an hour. It offers the perfect amount of spice to clear the sinuses. Loaded with garlic and ginger, both known for their various health benefits, this soup is a versatile remedy for everything from upset stomachs to lingering coughs.
7. Creamy Corn and Potato Chowder
Creamy corn and potato chowder combines the creaminess of potatoes with the goodness of corn. Potatoes are a rich source of proteins and vitamins such as C, E, and K, which are all beneficial for boosting the immune system. This chowder provides the perfect cozy feeling one craves during recovery.
8. Poblano Chicken Chowder
Poblano peppers are packed with vitamin C, crucial for maintaining a robust immune system. A hearty poblano chicken chowder offers just the right amount of kick to clear your sinuses, making it an ideal choice for colds.
9. Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Considered by many as the ultimate soup for colds, chicken and wild rice soup combines several ingredients that offer numerous health benefits. Chicken and rice provide protein, onions have antiviral properties, carrots aid in antibody production, and garlic has been observed to reduce the severity of cold symptoms. So, indulge in more rice soup!
10. Healing Green Tea and Chickpea Soup
We adore this recipe from Top with Cinnamon. Packed with carbs, this soup provides an energy boost while offering immune-boosting ingredients such as carrots, kale, and celery. To enhance its cold-fighting properties, consider adding garlic tortilla triangles for dipping.
11. Golden Turmeric Noodle Miso Soup
When you’re feeling under the weather, your body is likely filled with toxins. A turmeric miso soup is an excellent choice to flush out those toxins. This soup, courtesy of Love and Lemons, contains an array of vegetables like scallions, celery, carrots, and bok choy. It gives your body the additional vitamins and minerals it needs to eliminate toxins. Furthermore, it features rice and zucchini noodles, keeping you satiated, and tofu for protein.
12. Cleansing Detox Soup
This cleansing detox soup is a powerhouse of ingredients that help you overcome a cold. With immune-boosting elements such as turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, kale, and fresh lemon juice, this soup aids in cleansing your body and leaving you feeling revitalized.
Enjoy a Healing Bowl of Soup from Family Cuisine
If you are worried about loved ones far from home or friends with a house full of sick children, Family Cuisine offers a variety of delicious and nourishing handcrafted soups specially designed to promote healing.
Browse through our wide selection of Get Well gift baskets and Care Package Gift Baskets, which include hearty soups, warm rolls, cookies, and personalized note cards to show your loved ones that you’re thinking about them.
We may not be able to avoid taking sick days during the winter, but we can certainly soothe our sore throats and runny noses with a warm bowl of soup, our favorite Netflix show, and a cozy blanket.
You have just finished reading a post from our Get Well Gifts Guide. Continue reading for more fantastic ideas to help your loved ones (or yourself!) get well soon!
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Get Well – For the Hospital
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How to Wish Them Well
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Get Well Packages from Spoonful
- Total TLC Package
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