A friend of mine recently started a high protein diet and asked me how much carbs he should consume. While I gave him a generic answer, here’s a guest post by JC which explains low carb diets and how you should go about it if you wish to try it out to achieve your healthy weight loss goals.

Just as numerous diet plans have emerged in the markets, myths regarding low carb diets have increased also. Those who plan specific dieting techniques tend to ignore some of the essential facts and theories associated with them.

Today is officially the 1st day of spring! What better way to wrap up the Holistic Spring Cleaning Series than with a guest post about a super clean, nutritious grain that helps you lose weight? Bindu Grandhi, flexitarian cookbook author, blogs about quinoa and shares with us an easy, tasty recipe.

Grains are my-go-to staple food – they’re mild in flavor, inexpensive, and keep well. My pantry is stocked with brown basmati rice, whole-wheat pasta, couscous and my most favorite grain – quinoa (pronounced keen-wah).

While quinoa is considered a grain, it is actually the seed of a plant that is related to beets, chard and spinach. Honestly, I don’t care how it’s classified because if you’ve never tried it, you don’t know what you’re missing!

This ancient grain native to South America was considered “the gold of Incas” because they recognized this superfood’s value in increasing the stamina of its warriors. In fact, quinoa is quite the nutritional powerhouse:

• High in protein, it is one of the few non-meat foods that provide all eight of the essential amino acids that our bodies need to repair themselves.
• High in fiber, low in gluten and a great source of healthy carbohydrates.
• Great source of lysine which plays a critical role in tissue growth and repair.
• Loaded with vitamins and minerals (such as iron, magnesium and potassium); its magnesium, copper and phosphorous content means that quinoa is especially good for those that have migraine headaches, atherosclerosis and diabetes; its potassium content can help beat bloat.

Best of all, one cup of cooked quinoa has just 220 calories and keeps you satiated! So if you’re trying to eat healthy or shed a few pounds or fueling up for exercise, make quinoa a part of your meal plan.

Look for quinoa in your local supermarket or in natural foods stores. Some of the price clubs also carry quinoa; I got a 4 lb. container for $10! Make sure you store quinoa in an airtight container. It will keep for a longer period of time, approximately three to six months, if stored in the refrigerator.

Prepare quinoa by placing it in a fine-meshed strainer and rinse under cold water. Cook according to the package directions. By the way before I cook, I shallow-fry the quinoa in a skillet over medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes – stirring constantly until the raw smell disappears.

It takes only about 15 minutes to cook, making it a great time saver for busy cooks. When cooked, it has an airy rice-like and slightly crunchy texture, and a somewhat nutty flavor. Quinoa is so versatile, the perfect accompaniment for vegetables, beans, or tofu.

If you have recipes that call for couscous or rice, just substitute quinoa instead. When I’m short on time, it makes for a great one-pot meal and I jazz it up with spices!

Here’s one of my favorite recipes:

Sautéed Vegetables and Quinoa

This nutrient-rich packed dish loads up on veggies, mixed with quinoa and just a hint of garam masala. Simply yummy – great for brunch, lunch, dinner or snack!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes
Makes 4 servings

• 1 cup quinoa, dry roasted
• 1 ½ tsp. extra light olive oil
• 1 red onion, peeled and sliced
• 1 garlic clove, peeled and sliced
• 1 bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped
• 3 baby portabella mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
• 1 jalapeno (optional), stemmed and diced
• ¼ tsp. garam masala
• 2 cups of water
• Salt to taste

Garnish: ¼ cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped

In a medium saucepan, heat oil and sauté onion, garlic, bell pepper, mushrooms and jalapeno for 6 minutes. Add the garam masala and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add 2 cups water, cover and bring to boil. Add quinoa. Cover and return to boil. Reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork and salt to taste. Garnish with cilantro.

*Variation of this dish: Try other vegetables like eggplant or zucchini. Or add baby shrimp in place of the mushrooms.

About the Author

Author of Spice Up Your Life, Bindu Grandhi is passionate about healthy and flavourful cooking, especially when it’s flexitarian. She shares her health knowledge with the world by providing practical, healthy and tasty recipes as The Flex Cook.

Quinoa rocks my world! Here’s another quinoa recipe from the Live Lighter archives for you to try. How much do you love quinoa?

If you’ve been reading Live Lighter regularly, you know we’re posting a series on spring cleaning. On Sunday we shared 119 cleansing recipes to help you spring clean your body. Today guest blogger, Melissa Cameron, helps you choose the cleanest ingredients available to use in your cleansing dishes.

Everything has a downside, and modern food production is no exception. While at one time it was all the rage to be able to get whatever we wanted in a nice and neat package at the grocery, we’ve recently discovered there’s a sacrifice we make for such convenience: nutrition.

Another factor that has increasingly gained more consideration is the environment. As we look toward the future and contemplate whether or not we will be able to keep up our modern food production practices at our current pace, we find that we are sorely lacking.

While conservation seems like a loftier goal to most, the more immediate problem is your own health. The meat we eat is full of preservatives, hormones and antibiotics. Our produce has also been exposed to preservatives, along with pesticides and other chemicals. If you switch to organic food, on the other hand, you can forego all of it.

Organic Food & Fitness

While the term “fitness” may make you think about the trim, muscular people you see on infomercials, there really is a lot more to it. Sure, it’s great to be trim and muscular, but your body has to be in a more natural state internally to be truly fit.

When you consume organic food over long periods of time, you detoxify and return your body to a more natural state by attrition. In other words, you flush all the junk out of your system by not repeatedly replenishing it via consumption. Those attractive people on TV may not be as fit as they appear; they could be dehydrated and malnourished because they haven’t taken the proper steps to be truly fit.

What organic means in terms of our food:

• Organic produce is that which has not been sprayed by with synthetic pesticides and preservatives.
• Organic livestock is that which has had a federally regulated amount of time in a pasture and has not been injected with preservatives, hormones, etc.

Tip for the Novice: The Farmers’ Market

Assuming this is your first foray into organic living, you are going to have to become intimately familiar with the farmers’ market. It’s the place to find fresh, organic food because the transit time from the farm to the market is much lower than the farm to a grocery store. This ensures that fewer nutrients are leached from the produce.

Plus, the farmer is right there for you to talk to, so ask questions if you like. There’s nothing like this layer of involvement with your food; it promotes a real sense of community.

Farmers’ markets can usually be found along a major roadway, so they’re pretty easy to come upon – even if you’re not looking. They’re also typically held on the same day of the week, so if you’ve seen one at a parking lot on a certain day, you can return the same day next week and it will be there.

If you are looking for something more obscure than typical organic produce (or if you need organic meat), you should visit a health food store or a typical supermarket. Either way, you will find plenty to keep your Cuisinart slow cooker busy.

About the Author

Melissa Cameron is a 33-year-old mother of two who enjoys spending time with family, scrap booking and writing. Her dream is to one-day work for herself online as a freelance writer. Melissa is an avid Internet surfer enjoys digging up deals and is known by her friends and family as a walking infomercial. Check out her website to read a review on a Cuisinart food processor and much more.

Do you eat organic food for the same reasons Melissa gives in this post?

The holiday season is in full swing and if your pants are already shrinking, read on! Every decision counts and today’s post gives us ammunition to start living our New Year’s resolutions now with healthier holiday drink choices.

Between taste-testing my baked holiday goodies and all the temptations offered at social gatherings, the indulgences are starting to add up – straight to my butt and thighs! I suspect many of you are experiencing the same struggles so we’ve planned several posts (including today’s) that focus on healthier holiday options.

Healthier Holiday Drinks

If you’re maintaining your weight with healthy eating and regular (and holistic) physical activity, you have the luxury of looking mainly at holiday drinks offering health benefits and not so much their caloric load. Try Steph’s Holiday Hot Apple Cider and Minty Hot Cocoa in Healthy Holiday Bevvies.

Oprah’s favourite doctors, Doc Oz and Doc Roizen (authors of the YOU series), suggest hot toddies, gin cocktails, mojitos and red wine instead of your usual picks (and tells us why) in Healthy Holiday Cocktails.

For those of us who want health benefits AND to be mindful of calories this season, knowledge is power! The MayoClinic lists common holiday drinks and their calories. And have some fun by choosing holiday drinks rated low on the Lehigh Valley Health Network’s chocolate kiss scale in Healthy Holiday Drinks.

While all alcohol has calories and most of them empty (i.e. deficient in nutrition), distilled spirits seem to be the best option if you’re watching your weight: they have no carbs and measure in at about 100 calories per ounce. Many sources warn about the hidden calories in mixes so try this one:

Holiday Cosmo-POM-itan

Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 1 oz vodka
• 4 oz POM Cranberry
• 0.5 oz lemon juice
• pomegranate seeds (for garnish)

Preparation

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add ingredients (except for garnish). Shake and strain into a martini glass and garnish with 5-6 pomegranate seeds.

Health benefits: With only 137.6 calories, this healthier cocktail option (a POM-tini) is great for the waistline and thanks to POM juice, packs a wallop in nutrients and antioxidants. POM also promises: no added sugars, preservatives or colours; good source of potassium; gluten-free; certified kosher; and flash pasteurized to retain both flavour and nutrients.

Nutritional Info

Calories 137.6

Total Fat 0.0 g
Saturated Fat 0.0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.0 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 15.4 mg
Potassium 228.2 mg
Total Carbohydrate 18.4 g
Dietary Fiber 0.0 g
Sugars 17.8 g
Protein 0.5 g

Vitamin A 0.1 %
Vitamin B-12 0.0 %
Vitamin B-6 0.3 %
Vitamin C 0.5 %
Vitamin D 0.0 %
Vitamin E 0.1 %
Calcium 2.0 %
Copper 0.3 %
Folate 0.1 %
Iron 1.1 %
Magnesium 0.0 %
Manganese 0.0 %
Niacin 0.1 %
Pantothenic Acid     0.3 %
Phosphorus     0.2 %
Riboflavin 0.2 %
Selenium 0.0 %
Thiamin 0.2 %
Zinc 0.0 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Editor’s Note: The holiday parties this month may have you a bit worried about your health and making small talk. If deviled eggs are on the menu and after reading today’s guest post, you’re covered! Read on as Leon Harris tells us about the healthy wonders of paprika.

As you may have guessed, paprika is made from dried and ground up sweet red peppers or chili peppers (capsicum annuum). It is traditionally used in Hungarian and South American cooking, but can now be found in a variety of international cuisines. It also makes for a very pretty garnish on some dishes.

Paprika can range from mild to hot. Aside from providing a tasty addition to otherwise bland dishes, why would you want to use paprika (as opposed to, say, other types of peppers)? In truth, paprika carries with it a number of health benefits that could make it more than just another jar in your spice rack.

Here are a few reasons you may want to add paprika to your diet:

Vitamin C

In fact, the types of peppers generally used to create paprika can have six to nine times the amount of vitamin C found in tomatoes (which is quite a bit). This essential vitamin is best known for:

• fending off colds (thanks to abundant antioxidants)
• prevent scurvy (although not a terribly common ailment these days)
• help the body to absorb iron (great for women or those with anemia)
• protect against cardiovascular disease (and subsequent symptoms such as heart attack and stroke).

In short, vitamin C is a sort of miracle-worker of the modern diet and should be ingested regularly (since our bodies don’t produce it naturally). In this respect, paprika has already proven its usefulness.

But there’s more.

Antibacterial

Paprika contains an antibacterial protein that has been found to naturally control (by limiting the growth of) certain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that are transferred through ingestion. Considering typical treatment is chemical, paprika may provide an alternate treatment for people poisoned by these particular illness-inducing bacteria (although further testing is necessary).

A diet that includes paprika may not stop these bacteria, but it could slow their growth. Considering the serious illness that often follows ingestion of Salmonella or E. coli, this could greatly affect the severity of the condition.

Stimulating

Paprika is a stimulant that can have a marked effect on the cardiovascular system. It can improve circulation and even help normalize blood pressure. Along with vitamin C, this gives users a double whammy of heart-healthy benefits.

It can also aid in digestion through a boost in saliva and stomach acids (as such, it can also be used to treat indigestion). Interestingly, high doses of paprika may interact with some other medications to cause drowsiness, so if you plan to add it as an herbal supplement to your diet, you may want to first consult a physician.

Important Note

The many healthy benefits of paprika can easily be lost through the wrong processing. Commercially-dried peppers, for instance, are exposed to high heat environments that can easily leach away most of the vitamins and nutrients present.

It is therefore advisable to seek out paprika that has been naturally dried (in the sun), or simply make your own. This way you can be assured of attaining the health benefits that attend this useful spice.

About the Author

Leon Harris writes for Everyday Health where you can find answers to all of your health related questions including information on arthritis and how to treat it.

I was surprised to hear that paprika comes from either the red bell pepper or chili pepper. Since I’ve only tried the mild flavour, knowing it comes in a spicy variety is a bonus! And all those health benefits… Has today’s post convinced you to serve deviled eggs this season?

It’s certainly getting colder up here in Canada and though I sometimes complain, tonight’s dinner reminded me that winter has its perks. I love to warm my bones from a wintery chill with some delicious homemade soup. Especially when we’re talking about root vegetables!

Super nutritious but even tastier, this sweet and slightly spicy sweet potato soup is brimming with nutrients. Actually, sweet potatoes have been ranked the most nutrient dense vegetable given its dietary fiber, complex carb and protein content, vitamins A and C, iron and calcium. And that’s just one ingredient!

For a hearty soup, it’s deceptively light – a cup of this magical concoction makes a great side dish for many lunch and dinner items. And it freezes well! So get yer saucepan, pot and blender out and start whipping up a potion to cure winter’s whipping winds.

Sweet Pots & Ginger Soup Recipe

Makes: approx. 20 cups

Ingredients

• 3 large sweet potatoes, peeled & cubed
• 3 large carrots, peeled & chopped
• 1.5 inch ginger root, peeled and sliced
• 2 apples, cored, peeled & sliced
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 5-6 cups of water, less for thicker soup
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• S&P, to taste

Preparation

1. Place the sweet potato, squash, carrots, ginger and cumin in a large saucepan. Add the vegetable stock. Cover, bring to a gentle boil, and then reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes or until all veggies are soft.
2. Place the apples, onions, olive oil, vinegar and maple syrup in a separate saucepan and cook until soft over medium heat (5-10 minutes).
3. Add the cooked apple mixture, salt and pepper to the saucepan with the veggies and mix well. Once all the ingredients are thoroughly cooked, puree in a blender.

Editor’s Note: You might be surprised to hear that strength and motivation go hand-in-hand (in at least one respect, anyway). In today’s guest post Kyle Simpson tells us how we can improve our lives (and why) by making a few simple dietary changes!

Did you know that your testosterone levels can have an extreme effect on your life? Whether you’re a man or a woman, the amount of testosterone present in your body can have a direct effect on your level of happiness (or depression), sexual drive, memory, fat burning abilities, and even your degree of motivation.

But short of getting injections or taking a daily pill, how can you control the amount of testosterone in your body? For starters, you can find some foods that are known to increase testosterone and work them into your diet.

You may have heard that soybeans, for example, contain estrogen. Although there are no foods that actually contain testosterone, there are many that can help to enhance your current levels. And when you understand what those foods are and how they work in your body, you can use that knowledge to maximize the effects of your consumption in order to increase your physical and mental strength.

In truth, many “high testosterone” foods are actually high in the mineral zinc, which has been proven to increase both testosterone levels and sperm counts in a study of men who initially tested at low levels. Of course, before you start taking zinc, you should probably consult with your physician to see if it is necessary and determine safe parameters for ingestions.

And while you can, of course, take zinc in a pill form (or even resort to hormone therapy) if your levels are at a severely truncated level, increasing levels that are only slightly low through diet rather than medication is a great way to treat your condition naturally while forming healthy eating habits for life.

So you may be wondering: what are these miracle foods that help to make you strong? There are quite a few to choose from.

You may have heard that some foods are thought of as aphrodisiacs. In many cases, these are items that will increase testosterone, and the premiere choice is oysters. These slippery little suckers pack a wallop of zinc, which will definitely lead to an increase in testosterone production, in turn causing some men to become a bit more, shall we say, amorous.

And meat-lovers can rejoice because many meat products are known to be high in zinc. Beef, pork, and lamb (steaks, ribs and chops), as well as wild game, are great sources. In addition, most fowl will also fit the bill, from chicken and turkey to goose and duck.

But if you’re not a meat-eater, don’t despair. You can also find zinc in dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese.

Even vegans have options. Vitamin A is important for ensuring that sexual organs function properly (including those that produce hormones). So filling up on vegetables like spinach, tomatoes and red peppers, as well as fruits like apples, blueberries and citrus fruits (just to name a few) should help to ensure that everything is performing at peak levels and your body is generating and circulating plenty of testosterone.

And salmon packs a double whammy because it has both zinc and vitamin A!

With just a few simple changes to your diet, you can get the testosterone-enhancing foods needed to keep you healthy and strong for life.

About the Author

Kyle Simpson writes for Fatty Weight Loss where you can find information on dieting and exercise along with cheesecake factory coupons and coupons for other great restaurants.

Did you know women have testosterone in our bodies? Are you excited to hear that you can enhance your life through food?

Editor’s Note: Did you have a healthy Halloween? Today’s guest blogger, Kitty Holman, writes about her healthy substitute for those tempting Halloween leftovers that beckon to us all with their reduced price stickers!

I hustled quickly past my local supermarket’s Halloween candy aisle, chock full of bags of unhealthy bite-sized chocolates like Snickers and Milky Ways.

While I managed to get through another Halloween season with my waistline unaffected by these little sweets, the experience got me thinking about one of my favorite foods, dark chocolate, and how greatly its health benefits contrast with the non-food status of today’s over-processed milk chocolate.

The potential health benefits of dark chocolate are well-known. First, chocolate and cocoa both possess beneficial flavonoids called flavanols, which have antioxidant qualities that may act as a barrier to destructive free radicals in your system. Free radicals are believed to cause cellular damage leading to cancer, aging and numerous diseases.

Research has also indicated that the flavanols found in cocoa and chocolate have a positive influence on your vascular health by lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow to the heart and brain, making the platelets in your blood less likely to clot and even lowering your cholesterol, according to Cleveland Clinic’s Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute.

Not all dark chocolate is created equal, however. A problem arises when chocolate manufacturers process much of the flavanols out of chocolate or use flavor additives in an effort to improve the chocolate’s flavor. After all, flavanols cause a characteristic bitter taste to dark chocolate that hasn’t been through a lot of processing.

The loss of flavanols through heavy processing such as fermentation, alkalizing or roasting cuts back on chocolate’s health benefits just like the removal of the wheat germ and bran from whole grains takes away from their health benefits.

As a rule of thumb, you should look for dark chocolate with a high percentage of cacao and a low level of processing. If it has so many preservatives that it will last forever on a shelf somewhere, avoid it.

In general, look at the ingredients listing and choose the purest dark chocolate you can with as few additives as possible. As for straight cocoa powder, it is best to use powder that has not been through Dutch processing to neutralize its acidity, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Also, remember that you can’t just stuff your face with dark chocolate because of its health benefits (even though I’d certainly enjoy doing so). We must be mindful that dark chocolate contains sugar, calories and saturated fat.

While there is no established serving size of chocolate that will best help you achieve heart-healthy benefits, it’s a smart move to consume it in moderation, such as one ounce a day a few times a week. After all, you can incorporate other foods rich in flavonoids, such as teas, red wine, apples, cranberries and onions into your diet as well.

About the Author

This guest post is contributed by Kitty Holman, who writes on the topics of nursing schools. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: kitty.holman20@gmail.com.

Wow, a few things I didn’t know about dark chocolate, like roasting reduces it’s health benefits! Hmmm, if that’s true, then I wonder if roasted nuts are less nutritious than the raw, too? Anyone know, or will this be a future post?

Editor’s Note: Bindu Grandhi, The Flex Cook, is back this month blogging about one of my favourite spices, Garam Masala. She shares the joys of the home-made version and even, her Mother’s recipe!

Recently, a lovely lady named Evie sought my advice on how to make Garam Masala because she could not find it in her local supermarket. Typically, Garam Masala can be purchased ready-made in large supermarket chains, Whole Foods or specialty Asian/Indian grocery stores (which by the way has better quality and price).

But it can also be made from freshly ground spices in the comfort of your own home. Garam Masala means “hot spices.” It is a blend of many ground spices, some of which are known to ‘heat’ the body, such as cinnamon, black peppercorns, and cloves.

This spice is used in many meat curries and rice dishes, but I also use it in my seafood preparation and vegetable curries.

There is no set recipe for Garam Masala. In fact in India, many families have their own recipes passed down through the generations which are protected like trade secrets. Even some chefs add their own creative touch, for instance including dried rose petals in the blend.

However, I really like my mother’s recipe because the blend is flavorful and aromatic without being too overpowering. See her easy to follow recipe below.

Truth be told, home-made Garam Masala is far fresher and tastier than store bought, so I hope you give it a try the next time a dish calls for a dash of Garam Masala.

Homemade Garam Masala

Recipe from Indian Vegetarian Cooking from an American Kitchen by Vasantha Prasad:

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil (or the oil you prefer)
• 3 cinnamon sticks, 3 inches long, chopped
• 2 Tbsp green cardamom pods/seeds
• 1 Tbsp whole black peppercorns
• 1 Tbsp whole cloves

Preparation

1. In a small saucepan, heat the oil.
2. Add the cinnamon sticks and sauté until they release their aroma. With a slotted spoon, remove the cinnamon sticks, and repeat the procedure with the cardamom seeds and the peppercorns. When sautéing the cloves, use a lid to cover the pan, as they have a tendency to spatter.
3. Combine the roasted spices and grind them to a powder in a coffee grinder. Garam Masala keeps for 2 months in an airtight container.

Note: You can use store-bought ground cinnamon, cardamom, peppercorns and cloves, but the result definitely will not have the same pungency or taste as home-ground Garam Masala.

About the Author

Author of Spice Up Your Life, Bindu Grandhi is passionate about healthy and flavourful cooking, especially when it’s flexitarian. She shares her health knowledge with the world by providing practical, healthy and tasty recipes as The Flex Cook.

Editor’s Note: Ever wonder why chicken soup is the #1 most prescribed cold and flu folk remedy? Read today’s guest post by Leah Martins!

Before chicken soup was for the soul, it was used by mothers everywhere as the best course to treat physical maladies of all types (although it’s best known to remedy the common cold).  But what is it about chicken soup that makes it such a health-booster?

If it was snake oil, it would have gone out of fashion long ago, but it continues to be used generation after generation by concerned and conscientious caregivers. Every child has fond memories of being bundled in a mountain of blankets to sleep away the latest cold, with a steady diet of soup and crackers arriving periodically on a tray.

Is it just an old wives tale, or does chicken soup really have some magical healing properties to sooth and subjugate an array of ailments?

Well, it’s no magic potion in this day and age, but it may as well be. Chicken soup has several properties that make it useful in the treatment of certain illnesses:

• Cleansing. “Plenty of fluids” is often advised when you’re ill. A body full of attacking allergens (like a virus) and battling antibodies needs to be flushed in order to get healthy. To that effect, the abundant broth in chicken soup performs aptly.
• Disinfecting. Chicken soup is generally fairly salty (with lower-sodium versions), so that when it goes down your throat it acts in much the same way as gargling warm salt water. In other words, it removes bacteria in the throat, mouth, and tonsils.
• Clears sinuses. Much like other warm liquids (for example, tea), it can help to clear the sinuses with steam.
• Strengthening. The lean protein in chicken and nutrients from added vegetables work to bolster your strength when your body is feeling drained of energy.

These self-explanatory health benefits alone should convince anyone to suck down some chicken soup when they get the sniffles!

More Reasons Why Chicken Soup is Healthy

Studies have also shown that chicken soup affects you on a much deeper level.

For starters, it has been shown to inhibit the production of neutrophils, white blood cells that eat bacteria and cause inflammation and mucus production (i.e. stuffy nose, sore throat, phlegm, etc.). This is important because while neutrophils kill pathogens, their antimicrobial products damage host tissues.

Theoretically, chicken soup can also be used in this capacity in cases of asthma, emphysema, and even accidents where swelling occurs, to ease inflammation of targeted areas!

Further, each ingredient in chicken soup has its own special healing properties:

1. Chicken, while filling, is good for more than just a meal. It contains cysteine, an amino acid that is thought to help thin mucus in the lungs, making it easier to expel.
2. Carrots (which contain beta-carotene) and celery (which contains vitamin C), both of which help to bolster the immune system and fight infection.
3. Onions in your chicken soup provide the benefit of antioxidants that reduce inflammation and act as an anti-histamine.

Besides all of the physical benefits of ingesting chicken soup, there is an added psychological reason to take it. For many people, it is either administered by a caring relative or it brings with it fond and comforting memories of home.

Either scenario will allow a patient to relax and let the soup do its work to treat the symptoms. And really, we all know the best remedy is a good attitude and plenty of rest.

About the Author

Leah Martins is a writer for the popular self defense website Hertao, where you can find great tips and advice from the pros.

Depending on your ingredients (check this post for a chicken soup recipe), like additional veggies and herbs and spices, it would increase the already prominent health factor of this home remedy! What do you put in your homemade chicken soup?