Yes, Virginia, Chicken Soup is Good for a Cold

Yes, Virginia, Chicken Soup Is Good for Colds

January is the cold and flu month. So, what are things that can help ease the misery? There are several actions which are effective; the first, though, is recognizing the difference between the flu and the cold. The flu is usually accompanied by a fever, muscular aches and pains, and a loss of appetite. One should contact one’s physician, if flu is suspected.

A cold is different; however, and home remedies are available which may help.

• The temperature does not cause colds; viruses cause colds. There is some evidence that people who tend to stay inside during the winter months, may have more colds than those who are active outside. This is probably due to the closer contact with other people, thus enhancing catching a cold/virus from another. Unless someone coughs/sneezes within a few feet of your face, colds are usually caught through hand to hand contact. Therefore, washing your hands will minimize your cold risk. Remember, wash your hands while singing ‘Happy Birthday’ (NOTE: For hand-washing to be effective, one has to do it for 15 seconds; the time required to sing happy birthday).

• Fluids are good. Fluids will decrease the thickness of mucus, and help one either cough up their sputum more easily, or decrease the upper airway congestion. Of particular interest is the effect of chicken soup. It has been shown to also decrease congestion, probably due to inhaling the warm salt from the soup, as one eats it. One can’t get too much chicken soup during the cold/flu period. The warmth of any liquid will also comfort a sore throat.

• Humidity helps decrease congestion. Therefore, a room humidifier, or just leaning your head over the bathroom sink as you run hot water, will decrease the ‘stuffiness’.

• Skip the antihistamines. Usually, the older antihistamines such as Benadryl, are the only ones which will ‘dry up’ nasal secretions. However, in drying up your mucus membranes, one will decrease your body’s ability to get rid of germs which lurk in the nasal passage.

• Cough medications may not help: The American College of Chest Physicians, say cough medications don’t help. In children, cough medications may even be dangerous, based on the ingredients in the syrup used.

• The latest research indicates that Vitamin C, Echinacea or zinc as cold remedies do not help. Ionized zinc lozenges, however, may shorten the duration of symptoms.

Significant to note is that a cold will last 7 days if one follows the above prescriptions. If one does nothing, the cold will last a week. So, what’s the difference? The difference is in terms of comfort: your comfort. Following the above suggestions will make you feel better when you have a cold.