Soup is a comfort food for many people. Soup is soothing and may remind you of the food that Grandma fed you when you were sick as a child. Soup may be good for you when you have a fever or other illness, but it depends on the type of soup. In some cases, certain soups may make your symptoms worse.

Frugal home cooks know that nearly every part of a chicken tossed into a pot makes good soup. However, for hearty, flavorful soups, legs and thighs are ideal because they have a stronger taste than white meat and make a correspondingly richer broth.

Center-cut beef shanks are cut from the foreleg, just below the shoulder. They are excellent for use in soups and stews because they take so well to being cooked in liquid. Beef-shank soups typically require several hours of simmering to tenderize the meat and draw all of the flavor from the bones.

Usually breaded, fried and served as an appetizer in restaurants, calamari is simply edible squid. Calamari tubes are the body of the squid, minus the tentacles, and are usually cut into rings or strips. Calamari is low in calories and high in omega-3 oils and protein.

There are two basic types of pho -- beef or chicken -- as well as dozens if not hundreds of variations. Both pho bo, the traditional beef noodle soup, and pho ga, the version with chicken, are made with flat rice noodles and scallions. Then the games begin. For example, eight types of beef can be used in pho bo.

Raw eggs are a common ingredient in many Asian style soups, both to enhance taste and provide an interesting texture. When instructions call for adding both the yolk and the egg white, you can reduce fat and cholesterol and increase the nutritional value of your soup by separating the egg and adding only the whites.

Constipation can cause you to experience intestinal discomfort and increase your risk of developing hemorrhoids. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a high-fiber diet contributes to regular bowel movements and helps to prevent and treat constipation.

More than 4 million Americans frequently suffer from constipation, and this gastrointestinal problem accounts for 2.5 million physician visits a year, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

Nigerian vegetable soup, or edikaikong soup, is a traditional Nigerian soup made with assorted meats, seafood and vegetables and served with one of Nigeria’s standard side dishes for soups and stews: ugi. Ugu is the name for the fluted pumpkin leaf, which is grown in Nigeria and other tropical African countries.

Cream of mushroom soup features a creamy base flavored with pieces of button mushrooms, although it can be made with any type of mushroom. You may find it condensed or ready to serve in your grocery store, or you can make it at home.

Like soup and stew, chili is a one-pot meal of endless variations.

Salads can be packed full of valuable nutrients, depending on the variety of vegetables you put in them. Also, the amount of calories in your salad can vary widely because of the type of cheese, dressing, nuts and protein you may add onto it.