Can I eat egg drop soup while sick?

Egg drop soup is a common Chinese broth-based soup made with eggs, chicken broth, green onions, and other optional ingredients. It’s known for its silky, egg flower-like strands of egg in a savory broth. Many people wonder if it’s safe or advisable to eat egg drop soup while sick with an illness like a cold, flu, or upset stomach. Here is a quick overview of the factors to consider when deciding whether egg drop soup is okay to eat when sick.

Benefits of Egg Drop Soup When Sick

There are several potential benefits of eating egg drop soup when you’re sick:

• It’s easy on the stomach – The broth is light and not too acidic or spicy, making it gentle for those with GI upset or nausea.
• Provides nutrients – The eggs provide protein for energy and recovery. The broth provides electrolytes to replenish those lost from fever, sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• It’s hydrating – The liquid can help prevent or reduce dehydration from fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
• May soothe sore throat – Warm broth can be soothing for sore throats associated with colds or flu.
• Boosts immunity – Chicken broth contains cysteine and other amino acids that may give a boost to the immune system.

The hydration, electrolytes, protein, and immune-boosting compounds in egg drop soup make it a good choice when sick. The broth is also easy to consume, especially when appetite is reduced or nausea is present.

Potential Risks

There are a few potential risks to consider as well with eating egg drop soup while sick:

• Food safety – Raw eggs pose a small risk for salmonella. Use pasteurized eggs when making homemade soup.
• Allergies – Those with egg allergies should avoid it.
• Fatigue after eating – The protein and warm broth may make someone feel sleepy after eating.
• Medication interactions – Certain medications should be taken on an empty stomach, so the soup could interfere.
• Dehydration risk – The broth could cause further dehydration if not consuming enough fluids.

As long as basic food safety precautions are followed and any medication or dietary restrictions are kept in mind, the risks are low. Feeling tired after eating warm soup is common when sick and not necessarily a bad thing when rest is needed for recovery.

Guidelines for Consuming Egg Drop Soup When Sick

Here are some guidelines to follow if consuming egg drop soup while ill:

• Stick to small, frequent portions to avoid overeating, which can cause nausea.
• Stay hydrated by drinking water, electrolyte drinks, tea, etc. in addition to the soup.
• Make it vegetarian or use chicken broth if vegan/vegetarian.
• Add ginger, turmeric, garlic, etc. to boost immunity-enhancing compounds.
• Get takeout or delivery to avoid cooking while sick. Opt for restaurants using pasteurized eggs.
• Avoid raw eggs and cook soup thoroughly to reduce foodborne illness risk.
• Adjust seasonings to taste if experiencing changes in taste/smell due to illness.
• Let it cool before eating if have mouth/throat sores or nausea with hot foods.

Following these tips will allow you to obtain the benefits of the soup while minimizing risks and eating it in a way that works with your symptoms.

When to Avoid Egg Drop Soup

There are some situations when it may be best to avoid egg drop soup, including:

• If following a clear liquid or BRAT diet recommended by a doctor.
• If you have an egg allergy or are vegan.
• If your nausea is severe, as the eggs or broth odor could worsen it.
• If you have a fever over 102°F, as hot soup may dangerously raise body temperature.
• If your infection is contagious, as communal soup could spread germs.
• If you have diarrhea, as greasy soup may make it worse.

In these situations, it may be best to avoid the soup until your illness or symptoms resolve. Your doctor can provide personalized diet advice for your condition.

Best Practices When Selecting and Preparing Egg Drop Soup

Making or selecting egg drop soup while sick takes some care. Follow these best practices to choose and prepare egg drop soup properly:

• Select pasteurized eggs if making it yourself or ask if eggs are pasteurized if ordering soup.
• Choose low-sodium chicken, vegetable, or mushroom broth.
• Pick a restaurant with high food safety standards if ordering takeout or delivery.
• Wash hands thoroughly before cooking and eating.
• Discard soup left out for over 2 hours; don’t save leftovers.
• Cook the soup thoroughly until steaming hot all the way through.
• Avoid raw sprouts or uncooked garnishes.
• Adjust recipe to use cooked mushrooms instead of raw to reduce risk.

Careful selection and preparation of ingredients and proper cooking temperatures reduce the likelihood of foodborne illness from egg drop soup. This lets you focus on its healing properties.

Healthier Egg Drop Soup Recipes

You can modify traditional egg drop soup to make it even healthier when sick. Try these recipe tweaks:

• Use chicken or vegetable broth instead of water for added nutrients.
• Add spinach, carrots, mushrooms, or bamboo shoots.
• Season with ginger, garlic, turmeric, or chili pepper.
• Use brown rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, or miso to add flavor.
• Swap some broth for green tea or herbal tea.
• Add cooked quinoa or brown rice for extra protein and fiber.
• Top with sliced green onions, cilantro, shredded nori, etc. for garnish.
• Drizzle with chili oil or sesame oil before serving.

Adding nutrient-dense ingredients like vegetables, herbs, spices, and whole grains transforms traditional egg drop soup into an immunity-boosting elixir.

Is Egg Drop Soup Good for a Cold?

Egg drop soup can be a good food choice when you have a cold for the following reasons:

• The warm broth soothes sore throats and eases congestion temporarily.
• The hydration helps loosen mucus.
• Chicken broth provides electrolytes to replenish those lost from a runny nose.
• Protein from the eggs helps maintain energy levels.
• Garlic, ginger, and chili may help clear sinuses.
• Onion, garlic, and chicken have compounds that may support immunity.

Just be aware the eggs or broth odors can exacerbate nausea for some people. Overall, egg drop soup is a nutritious food that may help ease some cold symptoms.

Is Egg Drop Soup Good for the Flu?

Egg drop soup can also be a supportive food when recovering from the flu. Potential benefits include:

• Replacing fluids and electrolytes lost from fever, sweating, and vomiting.
• Providing easily digested protein when appetite is low.
• The mild taste and soothing broth when struggling with fatigue and body aches.
• Warming the body to help relieve chills.
• Boosting immunity through chicken broth and garlic.

Those with gastrointestinal flu symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea may want to avoid egg drop soup until they can tolerate clear liquids. Otherwise, it makes a good choice as tolerated to provide hydration and nutrients.

Is Egg Drop Soup Good for an Upset Stomach?

Egg drop soup can be either helpful or aggravating for an upset stomach, depending on the cause. It may be beneficial for:

• Providing hydration after vomiting or diarrhea.
• Supplying easily digestible protein and carbohydrates.
• Being a low-fiber food that is gentle on the GI tract.
• Having a pleasant mouthfeel without being overly greasy.

However, egg drop soup may worsen upset stomach symptoms if:

• You have severe nausea, as the eggs and broth odor can trigger it.
• You have gastroenteritis, as high-protein foods may not be well tolerated.
• Your stomach ache is due to gas or indigestion, which the soup could contribute to.

Start with small portions of egg drop soup for an upset stomach to see if it provides relief or makes symptoms worse. Avoid it if nausea or diarrhea are severe.

Conclusion

Egg drop soup can be a good food choice when you’re sick, providing hydration, electrolytes, and easily digested protein. Benefits may include soothing sore throats, easing congestion, warming chills, and providing nutrients when appetite is reduced. However, those with severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or high fever may be better off avoiding it until they can tolerate clear fluids and broths. Make sure to practice proper food safety when handling raw eggs. Adjust seasonings and ingredients to accommodate your symptoms and improve nutrition. Discuss your diet with your doctor for advice tailored to your specific illness.