The old wives tale, “feed a cold, starve a fever,” has been traced back to John Withals, lexicographer, and author of A Short Dictionary for Young Beginners, (1574). Modern medical science now says to feed both.
“An old wives' tale is a supposed truth which is actually spurious or a superstition.” Wikipedia. Interestingly, in the 1611 edition of the King James Bible, Paul cautions Timothy to “have nothing to do with wives tales.” 1 Timothy 4:7
According to a January 3, 2014 article in Scientific American, the correct answer is,“feed a cold, feed a fever.” Apparently it has something to do with a rise in body temperature when one ingests food.
As we digest food, our bodies generate heat which, apparently, is helpful in beating the cold and fever inducing bugs. Chicken soup has always been the odds on favorite aid in hydration and sustenance.
I also find that my grandmother’s remedy of adding a teaspoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon to a cup of warm water and sipping it slowly is very beneficial and soothing. Thanks grandma!
I cite this information here because I recently recovered from a cold, which did not facilitate my writing blog posts, and I was curious about this maxim. In essence, that is the reason why I’ve been “away.”
Just sayin’ ...
Image: edibleharmony.com
“An old wives' tale is a supposed truth which is actually spurious or a superstition.” Wikipedia. Interestingly, in the 1611 edition of the King James Bible, Paul cautions Timothy to “have nothing to do with wives tales.” 1 Timothy 4:7
According to a January 3, 2014 article in Scientific American, the correct answer is,“feed a cold, feed a fever.” Apparently it has something to do with a rise in body temperature when one ingests food.
As we digest food, our bodies generate heat which, apparently, is helpful in beating the cold and fever inducing bugs. Chicken soup has always been the odds on favorite aid in hydration and sustenance.
I also find that my grandmother’s remedy of adding a teaspoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon to a cup of warm water and sipping it slowly is very beneficial and soothing. Thanks grandma!
I cite this information here because I recently recovered from a cold, which did not facilitate my writing blog posts, and I was curious about this maxim. In essence, that is the reason why I’ve been “away.”
Just sayin’ ...
Image: edibleharmony.com
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