Chicken Soup Helps to Keep Heart Healthy

Posted on 2002-10-10 02:41:01 in Nutrition |

Last year researchers reported that chicken soup had the power to combat symptoms of the cold and flu - this year scientists are reporting the heart benefits of the nutritious broth. A study carried out at the National University of Singapore, has found evidence suggesting that chicken extract, a concentrated form of chicken soup, can help to keep the heart in shape. Researchers who fed rats bred to develop hypertension with a commercially bottled chicken extract found that compared to control animals the rats demonstrated a 40-50% decrease in heart swelling and a 60% reduction in blood-vessel thickening over the year-long study period. The team believe that a naturally occurring peptide found in human blood and produced by the majority of body tissues, is responsible for the heart friendly benefits of the concentrated chicken extract. Similar studies carried out with pork failed to demonstrate virtually any positive effects upon the cardiovascular system.

SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.reutershealth.com on the 19th March 2001

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