Soups

Lotus Root, Chestnut and Free-Range Chicken Soup

traditionally used to support spleen health, nourish blood, and strengthen the kidneys

In short: Lotus Root, Chestnut and Free-Range Chicken Soup is a soup that traditionally used to support spleen health, nourish blood, and strengthen the kidneys. It is most often made for digestive wellness, children's wellness, kidney & urinary wellness. Total time about 2 hr 20 min. Key ingredients: lotus root, chestnuts, red dates, ginger.

Prep
20 min
Cook
2 hr
Total
2 hr 20 min
Makes
1.2 L
Lotus Root, Chestnut and Free-Range Chicken Soup

Why people make this soup

Winter lotus root is plump, sweet, and wonderfully flavoursome — Nourilo says the third section of the root (counting from the growing end) is the best for slow-cooked soups like this one. Paired with chestnuts and a free-range chicken, this is one of those soups that feels deeply nourishing while tasting gentle and slightly sweet. Traditional food therapy recommends it for children who look pale or lack energy, for elderly people with weak lower backs or loose stools, and for anyone who simply wants a restorative family soup that the whole household can enjoy.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates studies
  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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