10 Health Benefits of Chicken Broth
So many don’t know the health benefits of chicken broth despite their regular consumption of it, but this article tends to give you all the information you need on the health benefits of chicken broth which are explained below;
Improved Intestinal Health
Improved intestinal health is something that many people are becoming more familiar with when it comes to maintaining overall wellness and you can get these health benefits from chicken broth. Italian researchers pointed to one of the products produced by the bones in chicken broth, which are gelatin tannates, that inhibit the production of cytokines and adhesion molecules responsible for intestinal inflammation.
Joint Health
Another type of the health benefits of chicken broth is improved joint health, especially as it relates to arthritis and stiffness. The presence of collagen hydrolysate found in chicken broth was shown to significantly reduce joint pain in the test subjects of a Penn State University study.
Immunity Booster
One of the reasons why chicken broth is such a great home remedy for colds and flu is because it helps to boost immunity and speed recovery. The Pulmonary and Critical Care Section of the Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha published a study indicating that chicken broth is effective when it comes to the mitigation of upper respiratory tract infections because it inhibits neutrophil migration.
Improved Collagen Production
Those who know about the importance of collagen production in relation to healthier skin, hair and nails will be happy to know that one of the benefits of chicken broth is improved collagen production. Experiments conducted by German scientists indicated that the consumption of chicken broth by their test subjects improved both elasticity and overall skin hydration due to greater collagen production.
Antioxidant
Australian studies have also produced some promising results when it comes to the role of chicken broth as an antioxidant. Their studies indicated that the glycine extracted from chicken bones when making chicken broth helps to protect skeletal muscle from cancer-induced wasting and atrophy as well as reducing oxidative stress.
Improved Nutrient Metabolism
Improved nutrient metabolism so that you get the most out of the foods you eat is another of the surprising health benefits of chicken broth. Enzymes extracted from chicken bones when preparing chicken broth also proved to be beneficial in metabolizing an important nutrient known as GSH, which is essential in the prevention and treatment of more than a dozen major diseases, such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke and several others, indicates a Texas A & M University study.
Liver Cleansing
Because your liver is the major filtering center for the toxins that enter your body, the benefits of chicken broth for liver cleansing is of major importance. Doctor Kellyann points to bone broth from chickens or other bones as being high in the amino acid glycine, which plays a significant role in liver detoxification.
Corrects Food Allergies
Food allergies can be a constant problem for a lot of people, but they can be corrected, which is one of the health benefits of chicken broth as well. According to Holistic Squid, healing your leaky gut through the naturally produced gelatin extracted from chicken bones and other bones when making broth is a major step in reversing the effects of food allergies.
Anti-Inflammatory
Chronic inflammation is a major contributor to a large number of serious health conditions, which can be treated and prevented through the consumption of chicken broth. P.J. Barnes of Clinical Science, London shows that cysteine, histidine, and glycine and other amino acids produced by bone broths significantly reduce inflammation in general, and L-glutamine reduces gut inflammation in specific.
Respiratory Infections
A New York Times article citing UCLA professor Irwin Ziment indicated that the amino acid cysteine, which is a product of chicken broth closely resembles the bronchitis drug acetylcysteine. Because of this chemical resemblance, you can greatly improve respiratory infections through this much-touted home remedy.
What Is Chicken Broth?
When talking about chicken broth and its health benefits, we’re talking about real broth. Leave aside the stuff you pour out of a can or what you mix with boiling water from a package. What we mean by chicken broth is the broth that comes as a result of boiling an actual chicken, including the bones, in a stockpot. Why are we using such a strict definition? Most of the benefits of chicken broth we mentioned above come from the nutrients that are present in the bones. Moreover, they are released into the broth during cooking.
Once you have the basic broth, or what some people call stock, you can add whatever vegetables, rice or pasta you like to enhance the flavor and nutrient value of your chicken broth even more.
A Note of Caution
One would think that such a natural product as chicken broth would need no cautions attached to it. However, there are a few items you need to pay attention. You should keep this in mind when it comes to bone broths in general and chicken broth specifically. As we mentioned earlier, the benefits of chicken broth come from home cooked chicken broth which includes the bone. You should not use canned or processed chicken broth. The producers tend to include harmful additives and preservatives. Moreover, they may or may not use true bone broth.
- Possible Lead Poisoning. There are certain warnings you need to know about bone broths. Be aware of the consequences of the conditions of the production of the animals people use to make it. There might be a high content of lead that comes off the bones when making broth.
- Reactions to Glutamate. In general, glutamate is beneficial to most people. However, not for those who suffer from autism, ADD, multiple sclerosis and some other neurological disorders. They might experience an exacerbation of their condition by consuming large quantities of chicken broth or other bone broths.
If you suffer from the above health conditions, it is best to consult with a healthcare professional. They will be able to provide advice and treatment options best suited to your needs. Alternatively, try to find where to get free-range or organic chickens from which to make chicken broth.
Takeaway
Chicken soup or chicken broth isn’t only for the soul, but it also does wonders for your overall health. Now you know that there are plenty of proven health benefits of chicken broth. You can start taking advantage of it and put a whole chicken in that pot today.