Here’s another OWT that is so ingrained that we don’t even question it. But there’s one problem, a problem that surfaced again as we asked a doctor for some medical backup.

The doctor began talking about feeding colds and starving fevers when he stopped, scratched his head and said, "Or is it ‘Feed a fever and starve a cold’?"

Anyway, he went on to say it really doesn’t matter, since neither one is true. If you need one simple answer, if should probably be ‘drown’em both’, because both colds an fevers are helped by liquids. Fever is a condition that dehydrates the body, and therefore fluids should usually be ingested.

In addition, the advice is that when a person has a cold, and is hungry, by all means he or she should eat. If you go along with most of the medical community, which now acknowledges some benefit from vitamin C, then you should especially eat and drink those fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin C. Your body can also use the energy supplied by a well-balanced diet

  A sense of great awe comes over me as I approach this old wives’ tale, I love Chicken Soup!

The obvious benefit, when you have read all that is written about treating colds and flu, is that it’s the hot liquid characteristic of chicken soup that makes it effective. Colds and fevers tend to dehydrate the body and cause chills; therefore hot liquids help.

Picky appetites can also be tempted by the aroma and flavor of chicken soup, especially when homemade. Even with the fat skimmed off it delivers protein, carbohydrates, some vitamins and other helpful nutrients in an easily digested form. This makes it an excellent "first food" during illness.

So far so good.