The broth for the majority of the population is not only the basis for the future soup, but also a potential medicine. There are countless recipes for cooking broth and such national delights as jellied meat. And they are all considered useful. We found out what is behind the belief in the healing power of broth: tradition or proven facts?

Broth and disease

The broth, as a strengthening and healing agent, has been known to mankind for a long time. Avicenna also mentioned him in his writings. And in the 12th century, Moses Maimonides, a Jewish rabbi and doctor, prescribed chicken broth to patients with colds and asthma, for which the chicken broth was later nicknamed "Jewish penicillin."

It was previously believed that chicken broth not only strengthens the body, but even cures leprosy. However, other varieties of broths also had healing properties. For example, broth from suckling pigs has been beneficial for migraines. Broth of partridge, cooked without skin, led to constipation, and in the skin, on the contrary, healed of it. A decoction of chicken and rooster meat was equally effective in softening stool. Finally, chicken meat and fat broth was considered an excellent remedy for hemorrhoids.

Bone broths are highly appreciated by adherents of the Paleo diet, who try to eat like the ancient people of the Paleolithic. In their opinion, bone broths were a must on the hunter-gatherer menu.

Fans of broths are ready to attribute the most fantastic properties to their favorite food. In fact, research has shown that some of the expectations of broth-lovers are not being met.

Collagen myth

It is believed that if you cook bones of cows, chickens, etc. for a long, long time, for 24 hours or more, then the resulting broth, saturated with gelatin, will become an excellent tool for strengthening human bone tissue, his ligaments and even for treating a white hernia. lines of the abdomen. It is assumed that collagen from the animal's bone tissue enters the broth during the cooking process. The use of such a broth allows you to saturate the body with collagen, which rushes to places affected by diseases.

However, in the process of digestion, any proteins are broken down into individual amino acids or, at least, into short oligopeptides, consisting of several amino acids. Therefore, collagen, as such, will not reach either damaged ligaments or thinned bones. Moreover, the body itself decides where to send the obtained amino acids: to repair bone tissue or to another part of the body. That is, you cannot count on the fact that the broth you drink will have a healing effect on a given area.

We add that the debate about the effectiveness of gelatin (and this is hydrolyzed collagen) and various collagen supplements to food have been going on for a long time. However, recent studies have not proven the claimed effectiveness of gelatin and collagen for the health of connective tissue. And by themselves, these substances contain only a few amino acids, which the body can synthesize on its own, and have nothing that could not be obtained in another way.

The myth of lysozyme and vitamins

Another myth says that when broth is cooked from meat, the enzyme lysozyme gets into it, which has a miraculous effect on human health. In reality, everything is not so rosy. Firstly, a person himself knows how to produce this antibacterial substance. Secondly, lysozyme, of course, is a fairly stable compound, but with prolonged cooking, it nevertheless collapses.

A similar situation is observed with regard to vitamins. The overwhelming majority of them are destroyed when heated, so you should not count on a fortified broth.

As science developed, scientists began to research various broths in order to test their healing properties. In 2000, American pulmonologists demonstrated that chicken broth actually helps patients suffering from colds. According to scientists, its use limits the spread throughout the body of neutrophils - white blood cells that protect a person from infection and activate inflammatory processes in different parts of the body. The broth can help reduce the symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection. But the active substance of the broth, which has this effect, could not be identified.

In another study, drinking chicken broth was shown to improve the movement of mucus in the nose by the ciliated epithelium and make breathing easier. It has even been shown to do this better than cold or hot water. According to one of the versions, this effect, as well as the unique taste of chicken broth, is provided by sulfur or hydrogen sulfide. One way or another, but the mechanism of action in this case was not disclosed.

Finally, the broth can be beneficial for athletes because it quickly restores electrolyte balance during hard training, and amino acids are used for recovery and muscle building.

The idea of ​​a broth itself is certainly good, and the resulting product should be beneficial to the body. Among the extremely rare negative side effects of consuming the broth, only hypernatremia and anaphylaxis (due to bones trapped in the patient's cup) were identified. Scientists also do not recommend feeding broth to patients who have undergone kidney transplantation, as this product has an increased concentration of creatinine.

But when talking about the potential harm of broth, you should also take into account some environmental factors.

Lead from bones

So, scientists became interested in lead, which tends to accumulate in the bones of farm animals and birds. For humans, it is a neurotoxin that is hazardous to health. Lead can be contained in feed, in the air, lead whitewash is often used to paint premises for keeping livestock, etc. The researchers compared 3 variants of chicken broths: cooked with skin and bones, chicken fillet, and skinned chicken bones. It turned out that the maximum amount of lead is contained in broths on chicken bones. Moreover, the lead concentrations in them were quite high: 9.5 and 7.01 μg / l (for comparison: in tap water, the same indicator does not exceed 0.89 μg / l). In the broth cooked on fillets, the lead content was significantly lower: 2.3 μg / l. On the one hand, the quantities are small, on the other hand, we are talking about lead, and it can gradually accumulate in the body over the years. Sooner or later, its amount can become critical for health.

Muscle antibiotics

Antibiotics are another group of substances that can be found in freshly brewed broth. However, at this point, the opinions of experts differ. Agricultural experts say antibiotics are quickly cleared from the body. And according to the rules, a week before slaughter, the workers of the poultry farms stop giving medications to the chickens, that is, the chicken goes to the shelves clean. However, experienced compatriots believe that there is no guarantee that the poultry farm will comply with such standards, which means that there is no guarantee that the poultry does not contain a large amount of antibiotics. It should be added that the farm origin of the chickens also does not guarantee the purity of the meat from various medicines. If a bird is sick, then a private farmer will treat it with the same medicines as a large enterprise. And with the same success, he may not withstand the prescribed "drug-free" week before slaughter.

Therefore, it is better to get rid of antibiotics "by default". Studies have shown that boiling only destroys 20% of these substances. In chicken meat remains from 5.9% (grisin) to 11.7% (chloramphenicol). And 70% of drugs pass into the broth. Therefore, for safety reasons, it is recommended to drain the first broth 30 minutes after the start of cooking, add water and set it to cook again. And for drinking and soups, use the second broth, obtained no more than 40 minutes after boiling again.

conclusions

Is it possible to conduct such studies that would once and for all prove or disprove the effectiveness of broth for the treatment of various ailments? According to scientists, this is impossible for the following reasons:

• There are too many recipes for broth making, it is almost impossible to standardize this process.
• To refute the medicinal properties of the broth, they must first be proven. And at the moment, there is no clear explanation of how the broth acts on a person.
• Finally, as the scientists note, the control group in such studies would have to be left without broth, which would be so unethical.

Should you eat broth? Yes, sure. There are several reasons for this:

• It is a nutritious product that restores water and electrolyte balance.
• This is a delicious product, especially if you add some vegetables to it.
• This is a product that is prepared in the home kitchen from scratch, which means that it excludes the presence of any unwanted and unknown additives.
• Finally, as Stephen Rennard, an American M.D., put it, chicken broth plays the role of a TLC factor. This term combines three important meanings: tenderness, love, and care. That is, a cup of broth prepared for a sick person is a manifestation of care and love, which in themselves have a healing effect.

Chicken broth is an important part of the dietary food menu and contributes to the health of the body. The presence of medicinal properties in it provides this dish with popularity among people of different ages.

Benefit

The properties of chicken broth are different and depend on which part of the chicken the first course is cooked from. For example, breast and wings are the most dietary food. And chicken thighs contain more fat, so this broth is filling, but not dietary.

Also, this dish promotes rapid recovery from illness, improves health in case of fractures and bruises. In this case, lean chicken broth is ideal.

In order for chicken broth to be as healthy as possible, it is necessary to follow a number of rules for its preparation. Meat should only be placed in cold water. During the heating process, the liquid will take harmful substances from the meat and provide the broth with high taste characteristics.

Chicken broth contains a large number of peptides, unsaturated fatty acids. Adding seasonings (for example, onions and garlic) to the broth will make this dish an effective means of preventing and treating colds. In this case, chicken broth becomes an effective method of getting rid of infectious diseases of the respiratory tract, stimulates expectoration when coughing, increases immunity and protects the body from new colds.

Also, this product helps to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, normalizes the functioning of the stomach. Chicken broth is very useful for people with gastritis: but for this you need to cook a low-calorie dish in the second or third broth.

If you need a fatty broth, it is better to take broiler thighs and leave the skin on. In this case, the chicken broth will be very satisfying and nutritious. To get a clear and light broth that has dietary and medicinal properties, it is better to take the wings of a regular laying hen.

To get the most dietary product with a low fat content, it is better to add vegetables stewed in water to the broth, rather than fried in vegetable oil. In this case, chicken broth will be very light and healthy: such a first dish can be given to a person after an operation, a serious illness. Also, this dish is ideal for babies and people who want to get rid of extra pounds.

Chicken broth is an easily digestible product. Thanks to the substances contained in this dish, you can improve the condition of the muscles, get rid of inflammation, and provide the body with wound healing properties.

Other health benefits of chicken broth include:

• improving bone health;
• strengthening of cartilage tissue;
• normalization of the nervous system;
• regulation of the heart;
• improving metabolism.

Harm

Nutritionists often advise draining the first broth. The reason for this opinion is the harmful conditions in which poultry is sometimes grown and the presence of hormones and antibiotics in chicken meat. If you drain the first broth, you can free the dish from harmful substances and get only useful properties. In addition, nutritionists also recommend draining the second broth, and preparing the main course only in the third: as soon as the liquid boils, you can drain the broth and wait for a new one to appear. In this case, you can get not only a clean, but also a very dietary, low-calorie dish.

Chicken broth contains a minimum of carbohydrates and almost no saturated fat. In addition, the fat content of the dish can be easily adjusted by yourself.

Calorie content

100 grams of chicken broth contains 51 kcal (2.55% of the daily value of 2000 kcal).

Contraindications

For pregnant women, this product is not contraindicated, but only useful. Babies can also eat chicken broth (but only dietary). You should not use this product in case of poisoning and severe diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

The nutritional value

Vitamins and minerals

In addition to a large amount of vitamins, chicken contains valuable minerals.

Eating chicken broth will support a weakened body and help you recover faster. But, to get the maximum benefit from this product, it is important to remember: before preparing the broth, you need to decide on the degree of fat content of the finished dish. In this case, chicken broth will provide the body with exceptional benefits.

You can use whole gutted chicken or carcass parts. In this recipe, I propose to buy chilled chicken legs. Rinse the legs thoroughly in running cold water. Dip in a saucepan, about 2 liters in volume. Cover with cold water and heat. Bring to a boil. Drain the first broth. Rinse the chicken leg and lower it back into the saucepan. Pour in just the right amount of water to cover the meat and put it on fire. Bring to a boil. Reduce burner flame and cook for about 20-30 minutes.

In the meantime, prepare the root vegetables. Take celery root, carrots, and onions. If desired, you can use parsley root, parsnip. Peel the vegetables and rinse, dry with a towel, cut into large pieces. Heat the skillet without oil, place the vegetables and fry until browned. This will give the finished soup a richer color.


While the chicken is boiling, constantly remove the foam.


After about 30 minutes, add the fried vegetables and simmer over low heat for about half an hour.

Add bay leaves, black and allspice, cloves and coriander. Cook for 15-20 minutes.


Season with salt to your liking. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes and turn off heat.


Remove vegetables and strain before serving. Sprinkle with chopped herbs.


Bon Appetit!

The benefits and harms of chicken broth should be taken into account first of all, since due to personal intolerance to some components, there is a possibility of harm to the body. Today, chicken broth is a unique, useful find in cooking. This dish is quite simple to prepare, in addition, it has an excellent taste and has healing properties.

The chemical composition of chicken broth

Chicken meat contains a wide variety of substances and vitamins. A special place is occupied by:

• thiamine;
• vitamin B12;
• folic acid;
• riboflavin;
• pyridoxine;
• vitamin H.

It is also worth considering that there are mineral elements in chicken meat, which are also found in bones, skin, cartilage. That is why different parts are used for cooking. The most beneficial minerals are:

• calcium;
• potassium;
• sulfur;
• copper;
• magnesium;
• fluorine;
• phosphorus;
• zinc;
• chlorine.

When preparing broths, you should avoid adding a large amount of salt.

Advice! The broth will be much tastier if you add onions, carrots, celery to it during cooking.

Useful properties of chicken broth

For a long time, it was believed that chicken broth has medicinal properties, it is used as a medicine for many diseases. It brings great benefits during various diseases and with a weak immune system.

Due to its properties, the broth can remove mucus from the respiratory system, which is very important for pneumonia and asthma. Since the broth has bactericidal properties, it can be used to destroy harmful bacteria in the human body.

Important! Often, chicken broth is prescribed for people who have digestive problems.

Chicken broth for colds

The significant benefits of chicken broth during illness are undeniable. Its use allows you to cope with colds, prevent the development of flu. A hot broth of chicken allows you to improve breathing with a runny nose, to clear the airways.

Since the finished product contains a large amount of fat, this allows you to soften the mucous membrane of the throat, reduce pain during coughing, and also helps to relieve inflammation in sore throat.

After you have a feeling that a virus has been caught, you should not first run to the pharmacy for drugs. All that is required is to boil the chicken, drink the prepared broth before bedtime. In the morning, the condition will improve significantly.

Benefits of broth for the stomach

Also, do not forget about the benefits of chicken broth for the stomach. Hot broth stimulates digestion, promotes the secretion of gastric juice. Therefore, this product is recommended to be consumed by people who have gastritis or those categories of people who cannot eat well for a long period of time due to health problems.

It is worth considering, despite the fact that chicken broth has a beneficial effect on digestion, it is not recommended to use it for diseases of the pancreas and liver. This is due to the fact that this product is able to provoke inflammatory processes in the duodenum and thereby harm health.

Chicken broth for a hangover

Chicken soup is useful for many diseases. At the same time, many people know that with the help of hot chicken soup you can effectively fight a hangover, which is important after the holidays. In this case, you can prepare the soup in the standard way: boil the meat and add vegetables.

It is noteworthy that on the territory of the Caucasus there are special establishments that start working from 04-00 o'clock. Everyone can visit this institution and try a fatty meat broth called khash. At home, khash can be made from fatty hams or replaced with chicken broth.

Which broth is healthier

It is impossible to give an unambiguous answer which broth is healthier, because each option has its own beneficial properties. As a rule, chicken broth is used for colds and asthma.

Other options are also helpful. For example, broth made from suckling pig is recommended for migraine headaches. If you cook a partridge after removing the skin, then this can lead to constipation, while the skin is able to get rid of this ailment.

There are adherents who try to adhere to the diet of ancient people, as a result of which they value decoctions cooked on bones. In their opinion, such broths were used for food by hunters and gatherers.

Is it possible to drink chicken broth while losing weight

You should always consider the possible benefits and harms of chicken broth for weight loss. Undoubtedly, it is possible, even necessary, to use chicken broth during a diet. Many nutritionists recommend weekly fasting days, during which the main product is chicken broth.

It is necessary to boil the chicken, if possible, it is best to use a small poultry. You need to cook the future broth in 5 liters of water, after adding the celery root. During the fasting day, you should completely abandon the use of other food products. Throughout the day, chicken broth is recommended to be taken 5 times, each meal is 250 ml of chicken broth. As a rule, they switch to the usual diet the next day.

Chicken broth diet

The benefits of chicken broth for weight loss are enormous. This method of nutrition assumes that for 5 days only the broth and the meat from which it was cooked will be included in the diet. The cooking method is as follows:

1. Take a small chicken carcass.
2. Cut out the brisket.
3. Cook until fully cooked in 3 liters of water.
4. Salt is added to taste.
5. Herbs can be added to enhance the flavor.

You should get about 2.5 liters of broth, which is divided into 5 servings and consumed during the day every 4 hours, you can also use boiled chicken breast.

As practice shows, in 5 days of such a diet, you can lose up to 5 extra pounds. Due to the fact that there is a wide variety of menus suitable for the diet, everyone can choose exactly what he needs.

Attention! The broth must be cooked over low heat, removing the foam as necessary, otherwise the liquid will be cloudy with an unpleasant aftertaste.

How to cook chicken broth correctly

1. The chicken carcass is washed under running water.
2. Pour in water.
3. After boiling, cook for 20 minutes.
4. Then the water is drained.

Another method can be used to save useful properties:

1. Poultry is washed thoroughly. According to the recipes of the old healers, it is best to use the meat of the old rooster.
2. Onions, carrots, herbs are added to the water with the bird.
3. Put the pan on low heat.
4. After the water has boiled, remove the foam and set the fire to maximum.
5. After 10 minutes of active boiling, remove the vegetables.
6. It takes about 3 hours to cook the meat over low heat.
7. Add salt and spices to taste 30 minutes before cooking.
8. The broth should be filtered and cooled, only after that it can be consumed.

If the broth is used for colds, then it is recommended to break a chicken egg and pour it with hot chicken broth.

The harm of chicken broth

Chicken broth is able to bring benefits and harm to the human body, depending on individual characteristics and intolerance to certain components. If we consider this situation as a whole, then a decoction of meat is not capable of causing much harm if the product is consumed in moderation. You can do harm if a low-quality product is taken.

It should be borne in mind that some manufacturers add special additives to chicken feed that stimulate rapid growth. As a result, it is not known how the bird was raised.

In the process of growth, animals are vaccinated, preventing the occurrence of many diseases. It is important to understand that these drugs have a significant impact on the quality of the finished product.

Fat content of broth

Almost 40% of the fat in chicken ends up in the finished dish. Love for rich soup can lead to some consequences:

• the amount of cholesterol in the blood increases, as a result of which the blood vessels begin to clog;
• excessive use can increase weight, while in limited quantities it has an effective effect on the body when losing weight;
• the likelihood of tumors of the stomach and intestines increases.

Thus, excessive consumption of this product can harm the body. That is why chicken broth is useful only in small quantities.

Attention! The calorie content of chicken broth per 100 grams can vary from 50 to 250 calories.

The onset of allergies

It is important to understand that cooking time affects the quality of the final product. Thus, the longer the chicken is cooked, the more it releases harmful substances into the water.

If you buy poultry from farmers who do not add special additives to the animal's diet to accelerate growth, but use exclusively natural feed, then you should not be afraid of an allergic reaction. You can harm the body only if you cook chicken broth purchased in a store for a long time.

Important! With gout and urolithiasis, you should completely abandon the use of decoctions.

How to make chicken broth healthier

Undoubtedly, in order to make the broth healthier, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to the choice of products. When choosing vegetables and chicken, it is best to opt for natural, farm-grown foods.

Lean chicken is used for the broth. This is due to the fact that they contain much less extractives that affect the deposition of salts. If you are not sure that the purchased chicken is of high quality, then it is recommended to remove the skin and separate the meat from the bones, since it is they that contain a large amount of heavy metals that are harmful to the body.

For cooking, use meat, after boiling, the water is completely drained and poured again. Remove foam as needed. By following these guidelines, you can make a healthy, low-calorie broth.

How can you replace chicken broth during illness

Many people know about the beneficial properties of chicken broth, as a result of which they use it for a number of diseases. Do not forget about the individual intolerance of some components by the body, as a result of which there are categories of persons who cannot use this product. In this case, it remains to either take medications or look for an alternative solution. You can replace chicken broth with vegetable soups, which do not harm the body if consumed daily.

Is there a benefit in bouillon cubes

Despite the fact that vitamin B is present in chicken cubes, the benefits of such a decoction will be much less than from a natural one. During cooking, the meat gives off all the nutrients, which helps to normalize digestion. These properties are completely absent in bouillon cubes.

A decoction prepared using cubes can irritate the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. Also, do not forget about the large amount of salt in the cube, the excessive use of which has a detrimental effect on human health.

Attention! Many doctors say that if you use chicken cubes daily, then it is almost impossible to avoid the appearance of gastritis.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of chicken broth are the first thing to consider before starting to use this product. Undoubtedly, chicken broth has a lot of useful properties, so it can be used for colds and a number of other diseases. But it is impossible to exclude individual intolerance to the body of some components, as a result of which irreparable harm can be caused.

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Chicken bouillon is the main product during the period of therapeutic nutrition. Broth is a decoction made from chicken bones, meat and cartilage. The grease that forms on the surface must be removed. On average, it takes up to 2 hours to cook chicken broth over low heat. It looks like a transparent liquid with a slight yellowish and greenish tint (see photo).

Beneficial features

The benefits of chicken broth include the presence of various vitamins and minerals. In folk medicine, it is recommended to use it for colds and flu. The liquid contains the amino acid cysteine, which helps to cope with colds, and it also loses phlegm and helps to remove it. The broth helps to recover faster in case of fractures, since the bone fusion is faster. Chicken broth activates the secretion of digestive juices and bile. Given this property, traditional healers recommend using broth for hypoacid gastritis and pancreatitis.

Warm broth helps to improve the functioning of the digestive system, as it improves the activity of the stomach and duodenum. In addition, it has a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. It is recommended to include it in the diet for people with gastritis. Low-fat chicken broth options can be consumed by people who want to lose weight or are monitoring their weight.

Cooking use

Chicken broth is an excellent independent product, and it can also act as an ideal basis for preparing a huge number of first courses, including mashed soups. Chicken broth is also included in the recipe for various sauces, aspic, and it is also added when stewing vegetables and when preparing cereals.

Secrets of Making Homemade Chicken Broth

Even such a simple dish as chicken broth has its own characteristics in preparation:

How to cook deliciously?

Each housewife has her own broth recipe, we suggest considering the most popular one. To prepare it, you need to take a chicken leg, about 300 g, 2 liters of purified water, an onion, carrots, celery root, some greens, a couple of bay leaves and the same amount of black peppercorns, as well as salt. Chicken meat must be clean, if you want to get a dietary meal, then remove the skins and fat. Wash and peel vegetables. If you need a broth without vegetables, then you can not chop them, but use them whole.

Take a saucepan, put chicken in it, cover with water and bring to a boil. Periodically remove the resulting foam on the surface. Add vegetables, spices to the pan, do not forget to reduce the heat. Cook the broth for 45 minutes with the lid slightly open. Make sure that the liquid does not boil too much, otherwise the broth will be opaque. Add greens at the end. It is recommended to strain the broth after cooking. It should be stored in the refrigerator for 5 days.

Harm of chicken broth and contraindications

Chicken broth can be harmful due to the presence of extractive substances that can provoke complications in ulcers, acute pancreatitis and gastritis. It can cause heartburn in some people. It is forbidden to eat broth for gout and urolithiasis. It should also be borne in mind that too fatty broth can lead to weight gain, as well as to the accumulation of cholesterol. This in turn increases the risk of bowel and stomach tumors. It is necessary to say that it is worth excluding chicken broth and dishes prepared on its basis from the diet if an individual intolerance is found. Chicken broth made from cubes is considered harmful.

There are several ways you can reduce the harm from eating chicken broth:

• It is best to use not a chicken, but a young chicken, which contains much less extractives.
• Choose breast or fillet that is lower in cholesterol.
• The chicken you are using must be peeled and all visible fat removed. Remove any fat that builds up on the surface during cooking.
• Do not use offal for cooking, as they contain a lot of cholesterol.
• Use secondary chicken broth, that is, first boil the chicken in one liquid, then pour it out and fill it with a new one.