Boost your Immune System with Pho

I remember the days when I stayed home sick from school, and my mom would make a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup. As she ladled it into the bowl, she’d tell me stories of how her mother used to make it for her when she was sick, and how this tradition was passed down from generation to generation. I remember the soup made me feel warm, happy, and over time, a little bit better.

While I grew up on chicken soup, it wasn’t until my 20’s that I turned to pho as my “get better” meal. Pho is a traditional Vietnamese street food and has the same magic ingredient as chicken soup — bone broth — but incorporates more herbs and spices to naturally boost your immune system, and speed up your body’s recovery time. It’s the perfect comfort food — warm, hearty, and healing.

I use to frequent a little hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese restaurant in Kingston, ON. and whenever I showed up, they’d just place my order. That’s when I knew it was time to start making it at home. Making pho is quick, easy, and uses just a few simple ingredients.

Healing benefits of pho

Bone Broth

Drinking bone broth is one of the best things you can do for your body daily, but especially when you’re feeling a little under the weather. Bone broth will help you stay hydrated, boost your immune system, detoxify your body, and help you beat tiredness.

Ginger

Ginger is amazing when it comes to relieving your cold systems. It helps to relieve nausea, loss of appetite, motion sickness, and pain, by reducing inflammation. It also warms the body from the inside, to help you kick that cold fast.

Garlic

Adding garlic to your food when you’re feeling a cold coming on has not only been proven to boost immunity, but there have also been many studies done that suggest that by adding garlic into your diet you can also reduce the length of your cold.

Chillies

We love spicy things, not only for the flavour, but because of the amazing health benefits. Chillies contain up to seven times the vitamin C level of an orange. They fight sinus congestion, aid digestion, help relieve muscle, joint and nerve pain. Some claim they ease migraine suffering. They’re also a good source of vitamins A and E, beta-carotene, folic acid, and potassium.

Limes

Overshadowed by its bigger citrus cousin, the lemon, don’t forget that limes are jam-packed with tons of health benefits. Of course they’re full of vitamin C, but they also help improve digestion, reduce respiratory and urinary disorders, and provide relief from constipation.

Green Onion

Green onions have strong antioxidant properties and are high in vitamin C and vitamins. Green onions are great for immunity, eye, bone and heart health.

Bean Sprouts

Often overlooked, bean sprouts are a powerhouse when it comes to keeping you healthy. Sprouts are a rich source of amino acids, vitamins and minerals, and a good source of fiber. These little wonders contain all types of vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, K), folate and are an excellent source of iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc.

Pho Recipe:

Method:

• Add oil to a heavy bottom pot and heat 30 seconds on medium heat until warm.

• Add garlic, and ginger, cook 1 minute, stirring often.
• Pour in bone broth, and add fish sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, chilli and vegetables, stir well.
• Add noodles
• Simmer until noodles and veggies are cooked to the desired texture
• Just before serving, squeeze juice from the lime into the pot.
• Ladle pho into bowls, and garnish.