" Chicken, like most protein foods, contains a natural amino acid called cysteine, which is released when you make the soup. Cysteine, bears a remarkable chemical similarity to a drug called acethicysteine, which doctors prescribe for there patients with bronchitis and respiratory infections, " writes Ziment.

In fact the prescription drug acetyleysteine, which thins mucus to the lungs, originally was derived from chicken feathers and skin, he notes. Lest you think Ziment a crackpot, consider Dr. Stephen Rennard chief of pulmonary medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. REnnard tested 19 samples made from his wife's lithuanian grandmothers chicken soup recipe. He found the soup blocked movement of inflammatory white cells in lab test. Cold symptoms-coughs-congestion, malaise-are the effect of those white cells' movement into the bronchial tubes. And Rennard's wife's soup worked even when the soup was diluted 200 times. If nausea is part of that cold or flu, be sure to put some ginger in your soup.

ginger - even the amount in a couple of gingersnaps or a glass of ginger ale- has been found to be comfort for an upset tummy. Daniel Mowry, a Utah psychologist, put patients in a spinning chair as a test. No one given 100mg of Dramamine was able to stay past 6 minutes. Fully half of those who took about half-teaspoon of powdered ginger survived more than 6 minutes. Danish researchers found that ginger suppressed vomiting; the protection took effect within 25 minutes of taking the ginger and lasted about 4 hours. Finally, remember that the best defense is a good offense. Take our advice; Make a batch of soup.

freeze half. Chances are, you're going to need it He says "those old wives were right about chicken soup.

The best cold remedy there is is chicken soup with Hot peppers. Serve it Hot and take in small doses , often.

One Doctor calls soup"the best cold remedy there is."