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When fever strikes, the last thing you feel like doing is eating. Generally, a symptom of illness or infection, fever is the body’s attempt to burn away disease-causing pathogens. It is characterized by a rise in the body’s temperature beyond the normal 37°C or 97°F. (1)
Since fever occurs in response to foreign bodies, it is important to boost the body’s immunity to hasten recovery.
Eating nutrient-rich foods that contain immune-boosting vitamins and minerals is one easy way to aid the body’s ability to fight. This is where broccoli soup steps in!
Easy to make, delightful to eat, and full of nourishing nutrients, broccoli soup can be a great meal during a fever.
How Can Broccoli Soup Help in Fever?
Broccoli has been studied extensively for its nutrient-rich profile. It has high levels of flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals that have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. (2)
Since inflammation in the body, either because of infection or autoimmune flare-ups, (1) can cause fever, broccoli and its soup can be a useful remedy to bring down inflammation and reduce fever.
In addition, broccoli is particularly abundant in glucoraphanin, which activates antioxidant activity and improves overall health.
In a recent report of three clinical cases, consuming broccoli glucoraphanin was found useful in reducing symptoms of COVID-19, including fever. (3) While these cases were not meant to promote only broccoli as a means to reduce the risk of infection or treat fever, it is enough evidence to suggest its helpfulness in fever.
Immune-Boosting Nutrients in Broccoli
Broccoli is a rich source of nutrients that are well-known in improving immunity. Just 100 g of raw broccoli provides: (4)
- 101% of the daily requirement of vitamin C
- 85% of the daily requirement of vitamin K
- 7% of the daily requirement of copper
Vitamins K and C can reduce free radicals and inflammation in the body. (5) These effects protect immune cells and increase their activity, in turn facilitating speedy healing when struck with infection.
Make an Immune-Boosting Broccoli Soup
Since vitamin C is heat sensitive, it is important to make broccoli soup in a way that preserves as much of its nutrients as possible.
Here is a great recipe designed by experts:
- Steam 100 g of broccoli florets in a strainer over hot water for 15 minutes.
- Remove and run cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Blend the broccoli until smooth. Add water to achieve the desired consistency.
- In a separate pan, add 1 tbsp of olive oil and grate 3–4 cloves of garlic. Sauté until it turns light brown.
- Turn off the heat and add the broccoli puree.
- Add salt, freshly ground black pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice before consuming.
Pro-tip: You can also use warm chicken or bone broth instead of plain water when blending. Garlic is a potent natural antibiotic that destroys disease-causing viruses and boosts the immune system. (6)
Most-Asked Questions About Consuming Broccoli Soup
Can I mix other vegetables in the soup?
You can mix in carrots and potatoes to enhance the soup’s flavor and increase your satiety. However, it may make the meal heavy, and consuming such during a bout of fever may be a challenge when eating is already difficult.
Who should not eat broccoli soup?
Generally, if you are experiencing extreme gas and bloating, you should avoid eating broccoli, although steaming and blending it break down its fiber, making it easier to digest. So, you can avoid it based on personal preference.
Can children eat broccoli soup?
Yes, children can be given broccoli soup. You can serve it with toast or add fun-shaped pasta to make it more enticing and palatable.
Practical Takeaway
- Broccoli soup is easy to eat during a fever when you generally do not feel like eating anything.
- Broccoli is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances that help boost immune system activity and potentially reduce inflammation, which is a cause of fever.
- Broccoli can be safely given to anyone, including children, as long as they do not experience severe gas or bloating.
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