Fruits to Avoid During Cough and Cold: A Comprehensive Guide for Improved Recovery
By Dr. Aastha Manchanda +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Aastha Manchanda
Last updated: Apr 22, 2024Click to rate this article!
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By Dr. Aastha Manchanda +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Aastha Manchanda
Last updated: Apr 22, 2024Table of Contents
Illnesses like coughs and colds can take a toll on our bodies, and it’s crucial to maintain a proper diet during this time. Eating the right foods not only supports the body’s natural healing process but also helps strengthen our immune system, ensuring a faster and more efficient recovery.
In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the importance of consuming a well-rounded, nutrient-packed diet while recovering from coughs and colds. Moreover, we will cover the best foods and fruits to include in your diet during these times and items to avoid, as well as useful tips for helping children stay nourished and strategies for reducing the risk of future infections.
A healthy diet that may help boost your health and immunity is key. Below we have discussed fruits and foods you should consume to feel better.
Did you know?
Filling your meals with Vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables holds numerous potential advantages. These include the following.
Here are some Vitamin C-rich foods that could be incorporated:
Berries are tiny fruits packed with antioxidants. You can add them to your diet during cough and cold for the following potential benefits.
The different types of berry available are as follows.
Soups are your best friend when battling a cold or cough. They may provide the following benefits.
The healthiest soup choices are vegetable broth, chicken noodle soup, and those with greens and broccoli.
Garlic and ginger have amazing properties that may be able to fight germs and soothe pain. They may help in the following ways.
You can add fresh garlic to your meals and ginger to your tea, smoothies, or juices.
Yogurt is full of good bacteria (probiotics) that support your gut and immune system. Below we have described how to choose the right yogurt.
Opt for yogurt with live and active cultures that promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria. This supports the immune system and aids in digestion, ultimately helping the body recover from illness more efficiently.
Go for plain, unsweetened yogurt with few additives. Sweeten it yourself with fresh fruits or a bit of honey.
Green leafy vegetables and broccoli are very healthy. Including them in your diet may help in the following ways.:
You can add spinach and kale to salads, sandwiches, and smoothies or blend them in soups. You can also add cooked broccoli as a side dish.
Hydrating fruits may help in the following ways.
Great choices that you may include are as follows.
Nuts and seeds are packed with nutrients . They may help in the following ways.
Here are a few that you can add to your diet.
In my experience, when you have the flu, leafy greens like spinach, kale, and others may strengthen your immune system since they are rich in vitamins A, C, E, and K.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D
Leafy greens may be consumed raw with a drizzle of lemon and olive oil or by adding them to soups.
Not all foods and fruits are going to help. Here are some things you should avoid while having cold and cough.
Citrus fruits are rich in Vitamin C. However, their high citric acid content can make a sore throat feel worse. These fruits can even cause coughing fits. These fruits include orange, grapefruit, lemons, etc.
Sugary foods can lower your immune system’s power and make it harder for your body to fight germs. Plus, sugar leads to dehydration and worsens any stomach issues during sickness.
Spicy foods can burn your throat due to capsaicin and cause coughing, making your symptoms worse. It’s best to avoid spicy dishes when you’re unwell.
Fried and fatty foods are hard to digest and can cause inflammation in your body. They put extra work on your immune system and delay recovery time.
Though not proven some people find dairy products make them produce more throat-clogging mucus during a cold or cough.
Alcohol and caffeine can dehydrate you and slow down your recovery from a cold or cough. It’s best to steer clear of these while ill.
Crunchy snacks like chips and pretzels have hard jagged edges which can scrape an already sore throat and cause more discomfort.
Other than being a rich source of vitamin C, broccoli is packed with calcium, fibre, and immune-stimulating vitamin E which may help your body recover quickly from a cold. Consuming hot broccoli soup can be beneficial.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
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A sick child needs the right food and drinks. Here are tips on keeping them well-fed during a cold or cough.
Give them simple, soft foods like soups, broths, and fruits like bananas and applesauce. Don’t give foods that can hurt their throat or make swelling worse.
Keep them sipping water or drinks with electrolytes. You can also give them popsicles made from fresh fruit juice. Track how much they drink each day, so they get enough fluids.
Watch how food impacts your child’s symptoms. If something seems to make it worse, swap it out for something else.
You may be able to dodge colds and flu by eating right all year. A strong immune system needs good food, workouts, and ways to deal with stress.
Have a wide mix of foods packed with vitamins and minerals. Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Stay active and take time to unwind. Both keeping fit and managing stress keep your immune system strong and your health good.
Sleep enough to let your body rest and fight germs. Drink plenty of fluids to help your body break down food, carry nutrients, and flush out toxins.
In conclusion, the food you eat when you have a cold or cough matters a lot. Eat the right foods to boost your immune system and get back on your feet. Avoid things that can make you feel worse.
By having a balanced diet, staying active, sleeping enough, and keeping hydrated, you give your body what it needs to battle germs. With these tools in use, you may avoid common illnesses and stay healthy longer.
You should eat vitamin C-rich fruits (except citrus fruits) and vegetables, berries packed with antioxidants, warm soups, garlic, ginger, yogurt, hydrating fruits like banana and pomegranate, and nutrient-rich nuts and seeds.
It’s best to avoid citrus fruits, sweets and sugary foods, spicy foods, fried and fatty foods, dairy products, alcohol, caffeinated drinks, and crunchy snacks during a cold or cough.
Yes, it’s fine to eat bananas during a cough. They hydrate the body, are easy to digest, and are filled with nutrients that help with recovering health.
Dry fruits can be hard for your throat during a cough. It’s better to go for soft, fresh fruits. But you can soften dried fruits by putting them in warm oatmeal or cooked meals.
Eat balanced meals, exercise regularly, manage stress, sleep enough, and keep hydrated. Reach out to a healthcare professional for advice tailored to your needs.
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