Chicken Soup for the Cold

By Maria Orlando Pietromonaco

You're not going to like this, but I'm going to fill you in on a bit of harsh reality: There is NO cure for the common cold. Hard to believe, right? They transplant hearts, remove brain tumors, make bionic limbs - but they cannot annihilate the good-old, everyday, irksome (sometimes downright miserable) cold.

Okay, there's the bad news. The good news is that we can try and prevent getting a cold in the first place, and we can try and treat the symptoms of a cold if we succumb to the beast.

Prevention. Since it's not possible to cure a cold, let's talk about the ways in which to dodge the villain. First of all, many people think that you can catch a cold from being cold, or being wet and cold. This is not true. The common cold is a virus; the cold air in and of itself cannot infect you with the cold virus (there are 200 strains of the cold virus, and any one of them could cause the two to four colds that each adult is expected to get within a given year).

What being cold can do, however, is lower your resistance to the cold bug, so while your body is fighting to stay warm, it is slowly losing the battle against the cold virus. So staying warm and dry can, in effect, help fight off a cold.

Maintaining a healthy and strong immune system is vital. Getting enough rest, managing your stress (notice I didn't say reduce your stress, I said manage it!), eating your fruits and veggies and staying hydrated will keep your immune system ready to ward off any cold critters that are crawling your way.

If you can avoid the cold buggers altogether, that would be a great benefit. Do you know how cold germs get into your system? Through your eyes and nose. So try and refrain from touch or rubbing your eyes, especially when you are out in public and you've come in contact with infected surfaces. Also, try and stay clear of your office mate who is sneezing infected particles into the air. Washing your hands often is crucial as well, as all day long we are touching things that have germs left behind by afflicted individuals. If you cannot get to soap and a sink, use a hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol. Carrying one around in your car or on your person from now on would be a good idea.

Treatment. Okay - so you've been defeated. You felt it coming on and now you've got a full-blown cold. Because it is a virus, antibiotics are completely useless. The only thing that is sure to rid a cold is Father Time. You have to ride out a cold virus, but you can make yourself more comfortable and possibly speed up the recovery with some natural, home-grown remedies.

Drink lots of fluids: Although you can't drown out a cold, liquids (like water, tea, juice, and broth) can loosen congestion and prevent dehydration due to mucous production (I know - but it had to be said).

Chicken soup: Believe it or not, mama's remedy may actually have some validity. Some studies suggest that chicken soup may act as an anti-inflammatory and also helps move mucous through the body (I know - but I had to say it again. Last time, promise).

Vitamin C: There are many conflicting studies about whether or not Vitamin C helps fight a cold, and if it does, how much is needed to do that. According to the Mayo Clinic, taking an extra 200 mg a day when you feel a cold coming on can't hurt, and several studies have shown that it does have beneficial effects.

Zinc: Same deal as Vitamin C. Many studies show that there is no conclusive evidence that zinc has cold-fighting abilities. However, there are a few studies that show promising results from zinc taken in a lozenge form.

Echinacea: Many alternative medicine gurus, including Dr. Andrew Weil, are proponents of echinacea to help shorten the duration of a cold (or event prevent it in the first place). Taking a supplement in the recommended dosage allowed by the manufacturer has no ill effects, according to many physicians, but the jury is still out on this one as far as its effectiveness.

Foods with cold fighting abilities: There are many foods that have powerful antioxidants that can improve overall health. Garlic, herbs like ginger and chamomile, green and black teas and many fruits and vegetables are extraordinary for the immune system and cell health. It can only help you to add these to your diet when you are enduring a cold (it would be a good idea to stick with it for the rest of the season, even when you are feeling well!).

Humidifiers and saline nasal sprays can help relieve congestion and stuffiness. Many doctors agree that over-the-counter decongestants and cough medicines may help reduce the severity of the symptoms somewhat, but they heed warnings about dosage, duration of use and possible negative side effects.

The moral of the story: Stay clean, disinfected, healthy, rested, hydrated and far away from cold-afflicted individuals if possible. Catching a cold at some point in the season is probably inevitable, but you can try to reduce the number of times you get one and the duration of the cold as well. But once you do feel those maddening symptoms infiltrating your nose, head, chest and throat, hold on to your tissues and ride out the storm.

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