What makes Nomz Chicken Soup Beneficial For Your Health?

Hey Nomz community, 

Thanks for all the love we have received for our recipes. The feedback and support have been wonderful. Many of you know that consuming our delicious and wholesome Asian soups make you feel great afterward, but we wanted to explain to Nomz fans how each individual ingredient - along with a focus on high-quality inputs, no preservatives and no MSG - help our bodies feel good. Keep on reading as Nomz customer Paul Hsiao takes us through the composition of our Chinese Chicken Shiitake Mushroom soup!

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By Paul Hsiao

For most, the thought of a chicken-based soup draws memories of cozy nights with family or, at the very least, a nutritious and filling meal at the end of a long day. 

This outsized role chicken soup plays in our lives is no surprise – it has been around for thousands of years across a variety of cultures. Each component, soup and chicken, have a longstanding history. Soup has been with humanity pretty much since clay pots used to boil water were invented ~9,000 years ago [1]. In fact, the very word 'restaurant' can be traced to soup houses in France that promised to 'restore' one's energy [2]. Mentions of chicken can be found in the Bible, and archaeologists have discovered chicken fossils suspected to be from 5400 B.C [3]. Over time, chicken found its way into cuisines and cultures across the world. For example, fried chicken in Japan is associated with the winter time, and chicken tikka masala is the national food of Great Britain [3]. 

One of the reasons chicken soup has maintained its popularity across cultures and over time is because of its distinct health benefits. Below we lay out the ingredients of our Chicken Shiitake Mushroom soup that enrich our busy lifestyles and are as flavorful as they are nutritious.
 

 The Ingredients Of Our Nomz Chicken Soup

(1) Chicken (note: we proudly serve Bell and Evans organic chicken):

• Combats the common cold– Chicken is rich in a compound called carnosine, and research suggests this compound minimizes inflammation in the lungs and reduces congestion [4,5].

• Lean and complete protein- there is about 31 grams of protein per 100 grams of chicken! That's almost 75% of the daily recommended amount for an average female. Chicken also contains eight essential amino acids – the building blocks of protein – which help the body maintain muscle [6]

• Rich in collagen and vitamin B12– Keeps skin, hair and nails healthy [7].  

(2) Chicken Bones (note: we proudly serve Bell and Evans organic chicken):

• Good for your muscles… - bone broths are rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium and phosphorous that support muscular health and our immune systems [4].

• … your skin… – gelatin (the cooked form of collagen), a protein compound commonly found in bone broths, encourages firm, healthy-looking skin [4]

• …and your stomach - glucosamine is released from chicken bones as they are cooked down. As one of the main building blocks of our digestive system, glucosamine can help maintain and repair the lining of our digestive tracts [4]

(3) Ginger: 

• An anti-inflammatory- contains compounds called gingerols which help reduce pain and increase mobility [8].

• Timeless panacea - used for thousands of years, ginger is a versatile medical remedy used to alleviate a variety of conditions including gastrointestinal distress, nausea related to morning and motion sickness, inflammation of the joints (arthritis) and the common cold [8]. Scientists are even studying ginger as a treatment for several forms of cancer [8]!

• Strong digestive aid– helps body release enzymes that break down food and alleviates intestinal gas [9].

• Diaphoretic– Increases circulation and perspiration, helpful in combating the common cold and other ailments [10].

(4) Goji Berries:

• Associated with longevity and health - since they are abundant in vitamin C and antioxidants, goji berries have been commonly associated with longevity for many generations [11]. 

• Shedding some color on health -  the unmistakable bright shade of the berries is the result of carotenoids, organic pigments that are linked to preventing eye disease and some cancers [12]. 

(5) Shiitake Mushrooms (we proudly serve local mushrooms grown to organic standards): 

• A natural blood thinner- the fungi has compounds that strengthen our cardiovascular system in two ways: 1) limiting the adhesion process - the unhealthy buildup in our blood vessels by adhesion molecules including ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 [13]; and 2) maintaining endothelium, the lining of our blood vessels [14].

• Immune system booster – dense in polysaccharides glucans such as lentinan (associated with enhanced immune activity), Vitamin B, Vitamin D and beneficial minerals including selenium, manganese and zinc [13].

(6) Red Dates 

• A huge dose of vitamin C -the fruit has more than 70 times the amount of vitamin C than grapes or apples of a similar size, key for recovering from illnesses [15].

• A true super food- in addition to vitamin C, red dates are loaded with vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, protein, phosphorous, iron, magnesium and calcium amongst other minerals making them one of the healthiest additions to any meal [15]. 

(7) Green Onions: 

• Rich in Vitamin K and Vitamin C - a key component in reducing the occurrences of blood clots while maintaining bone density [16,17].

• Promotes healthy circulation and insulin - sulfur compounds found in green onions help maintain cardiovascular health [18].

Sources:
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[14] 
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[18]