WINNIPEG — There are many old wives tales and secret family recipes for beating the cold and flu. But is there any truth behind them?
Pharmacist and author of Th Canadian Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Sherry Torkos, joined Global’s Morning News to separate fact from fiction ahead of cold and flu season.
Here’s a break down of the answers.
True or False?
QUESTION: Does chicken soup really help?
ANSWER: True. There is actually some truth to this one. Researchers found that chicken soup has an anti-inflammatory effect, mobilizing the neutrophils and making them work a little bit better. It also keeps the mucus in the nose moving so that the virus, which sits in the nose, can mobilize faster and help speed recovery
QUESTION: Will leaving the house into the cold with wet hair really cause you to get sick?
ANSWER: False: Colds are caused by viruses not weather or exposure to cold temperature. Most colds occur during the fall and winter because people tend to spend more time indoors and that increases the chances that viruses will spread. Seasonal changes in relative humidity also may affect the prevalence of colds.
QUESTION: Can natural remedies really speed healing?
ANSWER: True: While OTC drugs only provide symptom relief, a few natural products have been clinically researched and shown to reduce symptoms and shorten duration. Echinacea, elderberry and zinc are examples of products that are approved to actually reduce symptom severity and duration.
QUESTION: Can honey really soothe a sore throat?
ANSWER: True: Honey contains various nutrients and enzymes that are soothing to your mucus membrane, it reduces inflammation, and provides relief for sore throat and dry hacking cough.
QUESTION: Antibiotics the only medication that works for cold and flu?
ANSWER: False: Antibiotics are of no value in treating a cold. The common cold is caused by a group of viruses including the Rhinoviruses and Adenoviruses. Antibiotics are only effective in treating bacterial infections.
QUESTION: Feed a cold, starve a fever?
ANSWER: False: This is an old wives tale and there is not a shred of evidence to support this saying when facing a cold or flu.
The ancient belief is that eating food may help the body generate warmth during a “cold” and that avoiding food may help it cool down when overheated. Many people lose their appetite with the flu, and you don’t have to force yourself to eat, especially if your stomach is queasy, but it’s very important to drink lots of fluids and stay hydrated when you have either a cold and the flu. Dehydration can make the mucus in your nose and throat dry which can worsen sinus congestion, cough and sore throat.
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