Beyond chicken soup: what chefs and doctors eat when they’re sick (or just hungover)

When you're feeling miserable - whether it's a nasty cold, flu, or just a pounding hangover - what do chefs and doctors turn to for comfort food? The answer is often not chicken soup, as popularly believed.

For Dr. Ricardo José, a consultant in respiratory medicine, hydration is key when he's feeling under the weather. "It's about taking frequent sips throughout the day to keep the mucous membranes moist," he says. His go-to remedy for a dry, tickly cough is honey in warm tea - lemon or peppermint work well too.

Not everyone shares this love of sweet remedies, however. Dr. Jenna Macciochi, an immunologist, swears by raw honey and thyme tea to ease irritation and support respiratory health. "I also love marshmallow root tea," she says, "which is great for the mucous membranes."

When it comes to soothing a sore throat, smoothies can be a lifesaver. Dietitian Sophie Medlin recommends using frozen mixed berries and kefir for bonus gut health benefits. For Emeritus Professor Ron Eccles, ice cream or an ice lolly are the perfect way to numb the pain and irritation.

But what about spices? Chef Asma Khan, owner of Darjeeling Express in London, rustles up a strong masala chai with fresh ginger and crushed black pepper to soothe her throat. "The warmth of the tea soothes the throat," she says, "but the ginger and pepper do the real work - increasing circulation, clearing the sinuses and helping fight off infection."

Food is also key for specialist dietitian Sophie Medlin when it comes to recovering from a bout of flu. She recommends soups made with different vegetables cooked in bone broth for protein and nutrients, as well as shredded roasted chicken or tofu.

Of course, not everyone can stomach solid food when they're feeling poorly. Dr. Emily Leeming, a scientist and author of Genius Gut, agrees that staying hydrated is essential. For chef Anna Jones, a cure-all remedy is "fire honey", a bright-orange sunshine in a jar made with lemon zest, red chilli, ginger and turmeric.

And then there's the hangover. When you're feeling decidedly under the weather after a night out, Miers says it's all about loading up on vitamin-rich liquids - like green juice or water - followed by whatever delicious foods are available in the fridge. "Grilled sourdough with a fried egg, crispy chickpeas and chilli oil normally does the trick," she says.

For those looking to rebuild strength after a bout of illness, the advice is clear: focus on slow-cooked stews, fermented foods like sauerkraut or kefir, and plenty of colourful plants. As for José, he returns to a balanced diet with a good amount of protein - such as eggs - to support healing.

In short, when you're feeling miserable, it's not just about sipping tea (although that can be a lifesaver). It's about listening to your body and giving yourself the nourishment and care you need to recover.

Ugh, people think chicken soup is always the answer . Like, nope! Doc José's right, hydration is key, but honey in warm tea? Come on, that's cute . I mean, have you tried a good ol' fashioned cup of strong black coffee? Now that's what I call medicine ️. And don't even get me started on the so-called "expert" advice about raw honey and thyme tea... like we're all missing out on some ancient cure or something . Give me a break!

so like i was reading this article about comfort food for when youre feeling down and stuff, and honestly, it made me think - everyone has their own way of dealing with a bad cold or hangover ... doctor ricardo jose is all about hydration, while dr jenna macciochi loves raw honey and thyme tea ... meanwhile, others like emily leeming (aka genius gut) are all about staying hydrated too ... what i think is cool is that theres no one-size-fits-all answer here . like we should just listen to our bodies and figure out what makes us feel better .

food is like medicine for us when we're feeling crap i think what's crazy is how many people swear by different stuff but it all boils down to hydration imo hydration is key to keeping mucous membranes moist & that's what really matters when your body's trying to fight off an infection

omg have u guys tried this fire honey anna jones mentioned it in the article & i gotta say its a total game changer 4 hangovers! its like a sunshine in a jar plus its got all these amazing health benefits from the lemon zest, red chilli, ginger & turmeric i mean who needs ice cream or an ice lolly when u can have fire honey lol

I'm so over this "chicken soup is the answer" thing, lol . Like, don't get me wrong, it's comfy and all, but there are way more effective remedies out there! I mean, have you seen Dr. José's honey and warm tea combo? That sounds like a total game-changer for a dry cough . And can we talk about the power of ginger and black pepper in masala chai? Those spices are literally magic for your throat . But honestly, I think the real MVP is just listening to your body and figuring out what makes you feel better. Maybe it's a cuppa tea, maybe it's a bowl of chicken soup (just kidding, sorta ), or maybe it's something entirely different. The point is, self-care is key, especially when you're feeling under the weather .

I'm like totally remembering my grandma used to make me these amazing ginger teas whenever I had a cold ... nowadays it seems like everyone's got their own fave remedies, but honey in tea is still where it's at for me . And don't even get me started on how much I love a good warm bowl of soup when I'm feeling crummy - my mum used to make this incredible chicken noodle soup that was literally the best thing ever ... anyway, I think what's really important is finding something that works for you and just going with it .

I mean, have you ever noticed how everyone's got their own superfood fix when they're feeling under the weather? Like, I've got my go-to cold remedy - warm water with a squeeze of lime - but I know people swear by all sorts of weird and wonderful things. Raw honey and thyme tea, fire honey, masala chai... it's like each person's got their own secret ingredient to make them feel better.

But seriously though, I think it's all about listening to your body and figuring out what works for you. For me, a good ol' cuppa always hits the spot - but if that doesn't work, then maybe something with ginger or turmeric is the way to go . And don't even get me started on the power of hydration... it's like, have you ever had one of those days where you just feel drained? A big glass of water can totally turn that around .

What about you guys - what's your go-to comfort food when you're feeling miserable? Is there something in particular that always seems to do the trick?

I'm with Dr. José on hydration being key, but I gotta say, honey in warm tea is still my go-to cold-soak remedy . There's just something about that soothing warmth that gets me through a bad day. I love how some of these docs are getting into the benefits of spices and teas, though - ginger and pepper combo sounds like a total game-changer for sore throats!

I'm telling u , I had this chat with a food blogger who knows a celeb chef from Darjeeling Express in London, Asma Khan, and apparently she swears by that masala chai recipe with ginger & black pepper for when she's feeling miserable . She says the combo increases circulation & helps clear sinuses. I'm like, yeah no wonder it tastes so good ! Anyway, I think what they're saying is that hydration is key & listening to ur body matters. Don't @ me

I'm like totally obsessed with trying all these remedies when I'm feeling under the weather ! Chef Asma Khan's masala chai is literally my new fave thing ever - it's so soothing and warming, and the ginger and pepper do magic for my throat . And honey in warm tea is a total game changer too... I have this one brand of honey that's like, organic and raw and everything . Dr. Jenna Macciochi's thyme tea recipe is also super easy to make and tastes amazing - I'm definitely gonna start making that ASAP !

I'm loving this article on comfort foods for when we're feeling down . As someone who's always been super into mindfulness and self-care, I totally get it - our bodies are like temples and we gotta fuel them with good vibes . Dr. José's tip about hydration is EVERYTHING , and honey in warm tea is literally the best thing since sliced bread ! But what really gets me is that everyone has their own go-to remedies . I mean, who knew kefir and thyme tea were a thing? Sophie Medlin's smoothie idea sounds like the perfect hangover cure ️. And have you ever tried fire honey? That stuff is LIFE.CHANGING!

I'm so over all this soup and honey business . Who needs plain old chicken soup when you could have a big ol' plate of spicy noodles or a hearty bowl of beef stew? I mean, sure, hydration is key and all that jazz , but let's be real, it's not like a nice warm cuppa with a spoonful of sugar isn't going to do the trick. And don't even get me started on those smoothies - who thought putting frozen mixed berries in your mouth was a good idea? Give me a break.

I'm surprised no one mentioned ginger lollipops ! I mean, who doesn't love sucking on something warm and spicy when they're feeling crummy? As for me, I'm a sucker for a good ol' fashioned chicken soup ... just kidding . But seriously, it's all about listening to your body and doing what feels right, you know? For me, hydration is key, but if I'm being totally honest, sometimes a good cuppa with some honey and lemon does the trick .

I don't think we've ever been told what happens if our bodies get too used to those sweet remedies , like honey tea or marshmallow root tea... are they just masking symptoms? I'd love to see some actual studies on this!

I'm so done with everyone trying to one-up each other with their "miracle" remedies for when we're feeling rubbish! Like, honey in warm tea is great and all, but what about those of us who are lactose intolerant or vegan? Do we just get left out of the party because nobody bothered to think about our dietary restrictions? And don't even get me started on the spices – I mean, I love a good cuppa masala chai as much as the next person, but what about all you poor souls who are allergic to ginger or can't handle the heat from black pepper? It's like, we need some universal solutions that actually work for everyone!

drinking warm tea with honey is defo the way to go when u got a cough! ️ i personally love ginger tea or that fire honey stuff my friend swore by but seriously hydration is key, no matter what u're feeling like .

Ugh, I'm so over all these "cures" for everything . Like, if you're feeling miserable, just drink some water already? No need to get fancy with honey and thyme tea... unless you want a sweet tooth, I guess . And don't even get me started on the weird stuff like marshmallow root tea - who thought that was a good idea?

when life gives u a hangover or a nasty cold - don't reach for chicken soup like everyone else . hydration is key, fam! take small sips throughout the day & listen to ur body... if u feel like honey in warm tea or ginger in chai, go for it ! but also don't be afraid of spices, heat, or a lil bit o' acidity - they can work wonders for comfort food . and let's not forget, recovery is all about nourishment, so focus on slow-cooked stews, fermented foods & colourful plants

omg i'm so down for that fire honey Anna Jones is genius anyone know where i can get some of that bright orange goodness in the uk? also i totally agree with dr jose about staying hydrated when im under the weather, it's like my body is screaming at me to drink water