Corn, Walnut and Chicken Breast Soup

Why people make this soup

Corn is one of those ingredients that gives back more than people expect. In Cantonese food therapy, every part of the corn plant has its own role: the husks clear heat and reduce toxins; the silk (corn silk) encourages gentle fluid drainage and eases urinary discomfort; the kernels support the spleen and stimulate appetite; and even the central cob is used to strengthen the spleen and ease digestive stagnation. This soup focuses on the corn kernels, paired with walnuts and chicken breast.

Walnut is one of the most widely eaten kidney-tonifying foods in Chinese tradition — the wrinkled shape is said to resemble the brain and kidney, and it has been used for generations to support lower back strength, brain nourishment, and warmth in the limbs. For people who find their lower back and knees feel cold and weak, or who need to urinate frequently at night, this kind of simple, warming soup makes a practical addition to the weekly routine.