Does chicken soup really work to help against cold and flu symptoms? Short answer, yes! Chicken contains a natural amino acid called cysteine， which can thin the mucus in your lungs and make it less sticky so you can expel it easily. Canned, processed chicken soups won’t work as well as the homemade one. Therefore, for best results, make up a fresh batch yourself and make the soup hot. Making the soup from scratch is easy. Below is my simple recipe for making your own chicken soup and stock:

– Put the chicken thigh or breast or bones if you have chicken bones the best in a large stock pan

– Cover the chicken with water

– Bring to a boil and lower the heat

– Simmer for about an hour or longer

Besides the chicken soup, of course as always, make sure to drink plenty of pure water. Water is essential for the optimal function of every system in your body and will help with nose stuffiness and loosening secretions. You should drink enough water so that your urine is a light, pale yellow. Overall, you will want to address nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress issues the moment you first feel yourself coming down with something.