Dan's Papers - December 14, 2007 - The Y-Factor with Christian McLean

It's cold, wet, and snowy. You're body aches, you're sneezing, and you've got a runny nose. It's cold season. Americans account for one billion colds a year. Children tally a total of 22 million days off from school because of a cold. Yet we still can't cure it. Colds are viral infections, which means antibiotics do not work. The best we can hope for is to relieve the symptoms. For centuries the best way to do this has been chicken soup. Sure Tylenol can fix a headache, nasal spray will help with the congestion, and a little dose of brandy will warm you up, but nothing in modern or ancient science can make you feel better than a warm bowl of chicken soup. So what is it about this magical concoction of bird, veggies and broth that does the trick?

The common cold is the result of a viral infection of the upper respiratory system. As a response to this infection, the body sends an increased amount of neutrophils to the area. These neutrophils are the white blood cells, which most commonly fight against infection in the human body. When these neutrophils travel to the upper respiratory system they are believed to create the symptoms we associate with a cold.

In a controlled study at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Stephen Rennard, M.D. scientifically demonstrated how chicken soup helps ease the symptoms of a cold. By concocting a batch of his wife's family recipe he began studying the soups effects on extracted human neutrophils. What he noticed was that the soup was "able to inhibit neutrophil chemotaxis," which is fancy talk for decreasing the white blood cells' movement. He goes further to state, "The current study, therefore, presents evidence that chicken soup might have an anti-inflammatory activity, namely the inhibition of neutrophil migration."

But there's more to just the inhibiting of neutrophils at work when it comes to a homemade batch of chicken soup. Packed with fresh vegetables, the soup delivers nutrients, vitamins and essential minerals to the body. The broth also helps hydrate. The other aspect is all mental. We believe chicken soup helps, therefore, based on the idea of a placebo effect, it does help. It heightens our spirits, creates a positive belief system, allowing us to trick the mind into feeling better.

While Dr. Rennard's study was also conducted with store-bought chicken soups and produced a similar outcome, you must study the labels. For the past week, I have been enjoying a stroll down memory lane in the form of packets of Lipton Noodle Soup. But the health benefits of this particular brand are limited. It is a minimal source of vitamins and one liquid cup contains 28% of the daily value of sodium. Not to mention, dried chicken broth is the third to last ingredient, losing out to things like MSG.

While the study also conducted experiments on vegetable soup (no chicken) that did not have the same effects as the chicken, the need for veggies is still important. A sore throat prevents you from eating your normal diet, and therefore, soft vegetables, bring the nutrients you need. This is where making the soup from scratch becomes important. Fresh, organic vegetables are the ideal place to begin - the more the better. Also an organic, free-range chicken is important. Preparing the soup at home also allows you to watch the fat and salt content. Over time too much salt can lead to high blood pressure and too much fat can lead to all kinds of ailments a little more serious than a cold.

Now that the weather is dipping below freezing and we're forced to huddle inside for warmth, colds will begin to spread like wildfire. Cooking chicken soup from scratch with a full blown cold in the last thing you will want to do, so while you're feeling healthy, prepare a batch of the heartiest soup you can, packed with protein, vitamins and all the magic that is chicken soup. Freeze it in small canisters, so when a cold does rear its ugly head, as it surely will, you'll be ready. Otherwise, you can always crack open a can of Campbell's.

Until then, wash your hands regularly to help alleviate the spread of germs and always cover your mouth when you sneeze (then wash your hands again). Just a little side note: you do not get a cold from going outside with wet hair. That's just something your mother used to tell you. You can get hypothermia though, but that's another column.