THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, January 18, 1996             TAG: 9601160067
SECTION: FLAVOR                   PAGE: F1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY BETTY DOUGLASS, SPECIAL TO FLAVOR 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   53 lines

CHICKEN IN EVERY POT SOUPED UP SCIENTISTS ARE DISCOVERING WHAT MOM ALWAYS KNEW: CHICKEN SOUP CAN HELP NURSE YOU BACK TO HEALTH

MOMS always knew best.

Now, some scientists say we can reduce the length and severity of the common cold by eating, and inhaling, lots of chicken soup.

Scientists say chicken soup containing garlic or strong spices might help even more, in relieving cold symptoms.

Recently, chicken soups were the subject of a study at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami, where sips of the soup cleared up stuffy noses quicker than hot water, scientists reported. Unfortunately, the subjects' nasal passages were clogged again within 30 minutes.

So maybe chicken soup isn't a cure-all. It sure makes us feel better.

``There is the psychological lift gained from sipping something as warm, golden and homey as a savory broth, especially if it is a lore-enriched, sentimental favorite connected to home, mother, a nurturing spouse,'' says food critic Mimi Sheraton in her book ``The Whole World Loves Chicken Soup'' (Warner Books, 1995).

Whether it's made with rice or noodles, homemade broth or canned, a steaming bowl of chicken soup warms the soul. It is the ultimate comfort food, but it is health food too, packing low-fat carbohydrates and protein. For the soup recipes inside, we used low-sodium, no-fat broth. If sodium is not a concern, or you prefer a fuller taste, try one of the homemade broths included here.

Several of the recipes call for chicken legs and thighs; you can substitute breasts or chicken tenders. We've kept cooking oils and fats to a minimum. When it's necessary to keep vegetables or other foods from sticking to the pan, a tablespoon or so of warm water. MEMO: Sheryl Julian of The Boston Globe, John Owen of the Seattle

Post-Intelligencer and Molly Lopez of New York Daily News contributed

to this article. Douglass, a free-lance food writer and home economist

in Portsmouth, kitchen-tested the accompanying recipes. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Model: Chris Alcott/Body Sculptures; Bowl of soup: from Bistro 210,

Norfolk

A steaming bowl of chicken soup is the ultimate comfort food, but it

is health food, too - packing low-fat carbohydrates and protein.

by CNB