Water increases immunity

Drinking chicken soup has long been advised for people having the cold. Now researchers at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam have found that it is not without scientific back-up.

Six volunteers had their levels of gamma interferon tested after having a meal. Gamma interferon is the body's main defense against viral infections such as the common cold. It was found that the levels quadrupled after the meal. Conversely, when the volunteers only drank water, the gamma interferon level fell slightly, but the level of interleukin-4 nearly quadrupled. Interleukin-4 is one of the body's main defenses against bacterial infections such as the flu and respiratory infections accompanied by fever. Apparently, having meals fortifies your resistance against colds while liquids can keep the flu and fever away.

So next time, bring on the chicken soup for a cold, but go easy on food and heavy on water when you have the flu. Like the adage goes - starve the fever and feed the cold.

Source: New Scientist, January 19, 2002, p. 15