By Troy Bishopp
So a woman walked into the store for a can of soup; but there wasn’t any. That’s no joke. Seems the mystical healing power of soup is on everyone’s list for fighting back the ordinary flu as well as Covid-19. Scarcity yields innovation and nothing is more locally available than ingredients to make a good ole hardy cup of soup. Even a simpleton like me can boil a watery grave of meat, vegetables and herbs and have it come out healthy and delicious.
The culinary, virus-fighting, standard is chicken soup. “From Delhi to delis, it fills the world’s bellies. It’s been called an elixir, the poultry Prozac, and, of course, “Jewish penicillin”. But it transcends persuasions, when viral invasions and bacilli are evil villains.” ~ Richard Marcus.
As far back as I can remember chicken soup and beef broth have been staple items for wellness. Whether antidotal or science-based, my wife, mommy and grandmothers all brought me the steaming bowl of goodness when I was feeling under the weather. Even the glorious smell can lift one’s spirit.
“Chicken is full of protein, vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins, which boost immunity and help regulate digestion. It’s also high in tryptophan, which helps your body produce serotonin that can enhance your mood and give you the feeling of comfort. The noodles are packed with carbohydrates that help you feel full and satisfied and all those bits of carrot, celery, and onion commonly found in chicken noodle soup are a great source of vitamins C and K, as well as other antioxidants and minerals. Not only does this help build a healthy immune system to fight off viruses, it also helps your body recover from illness more quickly,” says Clinical Dietitian Sandy Allonen, RD from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Bone broth is another excellent way to ward off the great contagion. “Bone broth nourishes the body and can help to soothe the gut wall, repair damage and aid in digestion. It’s packed with protein, good fats, collagen, and keratin. Potent, enriching, and overflowing with health benefits, it is a champion all- rounder. Just as green juice is the super concentrate of green vegetables, bone broth is the essence of goodness that only animal foods can offer. People swear by daily consumption to help resist getting sick and to help with healing faster,” said sisters, Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley, authors of “The Art of Eating Well”.
Whether you’re using primarily beef or pork, lamb, goat, bison, wild game and poultry bones and stew meat or a mash-up of all of them in your bone broth, you have friends on the farm that can help you make this life-enhancing liquid. It’s respecting the protein to use the whole animal for the many meals they can produce. It’s also more resilient because it can come from the local community. I like the idea of simmering because it creates layers that support all genres of farmers, gardeners and local entrepreneurs; a kind of omnivore’s delight, if you will.
I’m fortunate to have wonderful mentors and well-worn cookbooks which offer the timeless recipes and skill to heal the soul of a community. I’ll go out on a limb and say we are also blessed to have internet-based home cooks, chefs, YouTubers, e-books and delicious methods that teach and share how to feed our families in a belt-tightening situation. The opportunities for wellness are right in our Northeast backyard. Please patronize your local farms and businesses and learn how we can grow and work together, again in case you forgot.
“For national and social disasters, for moral and financial evils, the cure begins in the household.” ~ Julia M. Wright, “The Complete House”, 1879.
Published in Lee Newspapers
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