This immune boosting chicken soup is a super nutritious home remedy for whenever the family are struck down with a cold at home. Soup is an easy make-ahead meal and a great way to add some nutritious and fibre - packed vegetables to your diet. Vegetables are full of lots of the good stuff your body needs, such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fibre.

The best part of this soup is it is safe for those on a blood sugar balancing diet. So not only do you get a lovely nourishing soup for your gut health, and your immune health, you also maintain stable blood sugars!

If you’ve been reading my blogs for a while, you’ll know I share a lot about blood sugar balance and how important it is for health. It’s kinda one of those low-hanging fruits - if you balance your blood sugars, a lot of other issues often fall away. And for those of you here looking for a way to reverse your prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, this soup should be high on your list of yummy meals to try! (If you’re looking for individual support in this area, I have a team who works ONLINE who will be able to help you with that goal - click here for more deets).

Why is Chicken Soup so good for you?

Helps Stabilise Blood Sugar Levels

Chicken soup is a low-GI meal option, helping you maintain stable blood sugars. If you have unstable blood sugar, or are working towards reversing your pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, you might like to hold off on the bread for this one! I KNOOOW how delicious some buttered bread dipped into hot soup is, but for the healing, stable blood sugars, you’re better off having a second bowl of soup than adding that bread.

Supports Immune System

Chicken has micronutrients like zinc and magnesium which can support immunity and prevent infections and ailments. Plus, stable blood sugars places less stress on your hormonal system, leading to a happier immune system!

Muscle Growth

Chicken is a rich source of protein which is essential for balanced blood sugar. It is also found that proteins from animal sources are easily digested by the body when compared to plant proteins. Protein is required for muscle growth and development, and the more muscle you have, the more stable your blood sugar metabolism is.

Enhances the Circulatory System

The iron content in chicken aids the production of red blood cells in the body. Chicken also has potassium which can keep the blood vessels in the body healthy.

Improves Brain Health

Recent research has indicated chicken bone broth is helpful in reducing the trigeminal pathway overstimulation, which is linked to seizures, migraines and headaches!

How to make chicken soup

PREPARATION TIME : 10 minutes

COOKING TIME: 30 minutes

SERVES: 4-6

Ingredients for chicken soup

250g chicken mince, or finely chopped chicken breast
1litre chicken bone broth
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 carrot, peeled and chopped into small cubes
1 leek, finely chopped
2 celery sticks, finely sliced
1⁄2 cup corn or peas, fresh or frozen
2 cups bok choy or other green leafy vegetable, finely chopped
1 tsp. fresh turmeric, grated
1⁄2 tsp.fresh ginger, grated
1⁄4 tsp. nutmeg
1⁄2 cup fresh coriander, finely chopped
1 tbsp. lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
2tbsp grass-fed ghee

Optional:

1⁄2 cup cooked rice or quinoa.

Method

In a large saucepan melt the ghee and add the garlic and chicken. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add the carrot, celery, leek, corn turmeric and ginger and cook for another 5 minutes, until the veggies have slightly softened.
Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add in the bok choy or other green leafy vegetable and cook until it has just wilted.
Turn off the heat and stir in the nutmeg, lemon or apple cider vinegar and fresh coriander.
If you wish, add in some cooked rice or quinoa.
Leave to cool for a few minutes before serving.

Storage:

Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.

Chicken Soup Nutritional Facts

Well, I’ve kinda told you all the best parts of the soup already, but I’ve added the nutritional facts of my own chicken soup recipe for those who like to see the data. Lots of healthy fats and protein, with some carbohydrate (but not enough to make your blood sugar go crazy!). The recipe dreams are made of!

Is chicken soup good for colds?

Chicken soup is full of nutritious ingredients that SUPPORT your immune function. Chicken soup is also known to support digestive function (and we know a lot of our immune system is in our gut!), and also, would you believe, there’s research to suggest it supports brain health too! Broth is known to reduce the severity of respiratory viral infections, and let’s face it who doesn’t love a yummy soup to soothe the soul.

So technically, you cannot “boost” your immune system, but you can support your body to be as healthy as possible, and mount a healthy immune response when needed.