Does chicken soup really help fight a cold?

By Lisa Drayer, CNN

Updated 1456 GMT (2256 HKT) March 9, 2018

Photos: 10 winter health myths busted

Some winter wisdom is about as factual as Frosty the Snowman. Problem is, these fictions don't just give you the warm and fuzzies: They can pack on the pounds, stuff up your nose and even increase your risk of cancer. This season, don't let these winter health myths get the best of you.

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<strong>Myth: Cold air can make you sick.</strong><br /><br />It's called the common "cold," but lower temperatures alone won't make you sick. In fact, the exact opposite is true. "Cells that fight infection in body actually increase if you go out into the cold," said Dr. Rachel C. Vreeman, co-author of "Don't Swallow Your Gum! Myths, Half-Truths, and Outright Lies About Your Body and Health." It's your body's way of combating the stress of freezing temps. <br /><br />Plus, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, cold viruses grow best at about 91 degrees; if you're outside in the cold, your nostrils are surely colder than that. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20306931,00.html" target="_blank">Health.com: 5 most common myths about the common cold</a>

Photos: 10 winter health myths busted

Myth: Cold air can make you sick.

It's called the common "cold," but lower temperatures alone won't make you sick. In fact, the exact opposite is true. "Cells that fight infection in body actually increase if you go out into the cold," said Dr. Rachel C. Vreeman, co-author of "Don't Swallow Your Gum! Myths, Half-Truths, and Outright Lies About Your Body and Heal