Chicken Soup for a Cold

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Chicken Soup for the Cold

Mom was right. Chicken soup really can help you get over a cold.

Ingredients in chicken soup have anti-inflammatory properties that

inhibit the movement of neutrophils into airways. Neutrophils are

white blood cells that contribute to the inflammation that causes

cold symptoms. Combat your next cold with plenty of rest, lots of

fluids, and a bowl of homemade chicken soup.

Typical cold symptoms include coughing, sneezing, and a stuffy nose.

Chicken soup may help quell symptoms in several ways. First, chicken

soup contains compounds that help inhibit mucus production. In

addition to chicken soup's anti-inflammatory effects, the heat and

steam may help open up nasal passages. If you have a cold, get plenty

of rest and drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration. Over-the-

counter cold remedies may help relieve your symptoms but they cannot

cure a cold. Sipping hot chicken soup may help, as well -- a steamy

bowl of chicken soup with plenty of garlic and a sprinkle of cayenne

pepper will boost the nasal-clearing effects of the soup. And be sure

to finish the broth; researchers determined most of the anti-

inflammatory effects of chicken soup come from the liquid.

Chicken soup inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro. Rennard, B. O.,

Ertl, R. F., Gossman, G. L., Robbins, R. A., Rennard, S. I., Chest

2000 Oct;118(4):1150-1157.

[Guest guest]

This research paper is almost funny and, to me, sadly typical of a fake

scientist botching the

understanding of disease, prevention and cure.

Good, home-made, organic, free-range CHICKEN SOUP is loaded with immune fuels

and

immune modulators. It's also loaded with vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, CLA,

anti-oxidants

and other nutrients. Most have GARLIC and other MEDICINAL HERBS as well.

When you have a virus (like a cold) you WANT mucus, fever, inflammation,

neutrophils,

lymphocytes, and all the symptoms that go along with that. It's the body

flushing out and

defending you from disease. One should MINIMIZE such things as aspirin,

anti-histamines

and decongestants. When you have a cold, the symptoms slow you down so you can

heal.

One serious secondary invader that could follow a cold is PNEUMONIA. Another is

SINUS

INFECTION. It goes on and on. Tell me you don't want neutrophils and

inflammation in situ

for that! How people have spun these results is an example of " science " at it's

dumbest.

Will