Feed a cold, starve a fever — what does that mean?

According to Dolhun, this age-old advice has more to do with how the patient is feeling than a way to treat the illness. "When you have a cold — versus a high fever, which generally means the flu — you’re not as sick. Focus on staying at home and hydrating, getting proper nutrition, and just getting better." Running a fever? Focus on hydration, even if you're too ill to get food down. 

As far as eating chicken soup goes, both Dolhun and Cranshaw say it's a go. "Naturally made chicken soup has a lot of sodium, so it hydrates really well," says Dolhun. "That's what you need when you get sick." Herbal teas (he likes Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger) and honey can also help. "In this fast-paced, push-through-it culture, some of the basics are often forgotten," he says. "So be gentle on yourself and give yourself a lot of TLC. Give your body a fighting chance."