Chicken soup
When University of Nebraska researchers tested 13 chicken soup brands, they found that all but one (chicken-flavored ramen noodles) blocked the migration of inflammatory cells—an important finding, because cold symptoms are a response to the cells’ accumulation in the bronchial tubes. The amino acid cysteine released from chicken during cooking chemically resembles the bronchitis drug acetylcysteine, which may explain the results. The soup’s salty broth also keeps mucus thin the same way cough medicines do. Added spices, such as garlic and onions, can increase soup’s immune-boosting power.
Turmeric
“Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound with anti-inflammatory properties that can help support a healthy immune system,” says Brea Lofton, M.S., R.D.N., Lumen nutritionist. Lofton adds that one peer-reviewed study investigated how curcumin may be useful in preventing and treating chronic diseases associated with inflammation, and found that it has potential as a therapeutic agent for conditions such as arthritis, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, in part due to its immune-modulating properties.