Chicken Soup
One of the most common home remedies for colds is chicken soup. Although there are no actual medical benefits to this soup, chicken soup often contains onions and garlic, which have anti-inflammatory properties that could help soothe your throat and lungs. The salt content of the soup will also help to thin out mucus.
According to the Mayo Clinic, chicken soup is one of the most popular home remedies for coughing and sinus congestion. While no one is entirely sure why it works, there are several theories about how it does. Some say that the heat from the soup helps loosen phlegm in your throat. Others believe that the salt and other minerals in the soup make it easier for the lungs to drain mucus. It could also be that chicken soup makes you feel better because its steam can open up your nasal passages and make you feel like you can breathe easier.
These theories are based on very limited scientific evidence, but they don’t negate that chicken soup has been used as a home remedy for generations. The world’s oldest cookbook, found in Baghdad, contains a recipe for chicken soup dating to around A.D. 1000—and even today, this dish is still considered an essential part of Jewish culture.
However, if your doctor has advised you to avoid salt due to heart disease or high blood pressure, skipping the salt may be a better choice.
