What to eat and what to avoid in cold and cough?

December 31, 2020 Lifestyle Diseases 1327 Views

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What to eat and what to avoid in cold and cough?

Cold and cough are common ailments that can happen to anyone. One must take care of self and the family to prevent cold and cough, especially during the weather change when the people are more vulnerable to cold and cough. During a cold, the area around the throat and the windpipe gets infected and the affected person feels as if something is stuck in the throat leading to throat pain and irritation. Hoarseness and throat ache are common symptoms of cough. Excessive coughing may result in the removal of a few droplets of blood along with the mucus. Wrong eating habits are a cause of cold and cough. Home remedies can be followed to get relief from cough and cold. Doctors prescribe medicines to treat the problem. Diet should be monitored properly to get relief. In this article, we will tell you about What to eat and what to avoid in cold and cough. 

  • What to eat when you have a cold and cough? 
  • What not to eat when you have a cold and cough?

What to eat when you have a cold and cough? 

  • Consuming jaggery is beneficial for the throat. Eat jaggery instead of sugar to reduce coughing. Eating ginger along with jaggery provides relief from throat irritation. 
  • Vitamin C rich foods like tomatoes, papaya and guava are effective to reduce cold and cough. Ginger has antibacterial properties that help strengthen the nervous system and eliminates infections of the respiratory tract. Having ginger tea is useful to relieve throat infection and reduce coughing. 
  • Garlic helps prevent coughing and improves the nervous system. Garlic can be consumed by mixing it with the meals. (Read more- What are the benefits of Garlic) 
  • Research shows that chicken soup is useful to provide relief from cough and cold. Since ancient times, people have used chicken soup to cure throat infections. 
  • Pineapple is rich in bromelain that effectively removes the mucus. One must eat pineapple to reduce coughing. (Read more- Benefits and side-effects of pineapple
  • Drinking honey mixed with lemon juice is beneficial to get rid of coughing. It kills the bacteria in the throat and cures the burning sensation. A spoon of honey is useful to treat sore throat. 
  • Basil leaves are useful to provide relief by reducing the burning sensation in the chest. Heated basil leaves can be put on the chest or can be chewed to cure coughing.

What not to eat when you have cold and cough?

  • Sour fruits like lemon, orange and sweet lime contain citric acid that cause irritation in the throat. Instead, one must have fruits like peach, pear and pineapple. 
  • Tea, coffee and energy drinks must be avoided when suffering from cold and cough. Drink plenty of water to cure the sore throat. 
  • Cold food items harm the throat and increases cold and cough. They must be avoided. 
  • Smoking not only causes coughing, but might also lead to cancer. Smoking must be strictly avoided. 
  • Consumption of milk causes the mucus to build up in the throat and the lungs. That is why doctors do not recommend milk or dairy products in cold and cough.
  • Processed food like white bread, pasta and a lot of sugars must be avoided. Green vegetables are healthy and do not increase the symptoms.
  • Oily and junk food stimulates coughing and further increases the ailment. They must be avoided.  
  • Doctors strictly prohibit the consumption of juices and canned food in cold and cough. They affect the white blood cells and increase the threat. (Read about- Symptoms of Coronavirus)

The problem of cold and cough must not be taken lightly. Contact a General Physician to get suitable treatment.  

Our aim is to provide information about ailments. We do not recommend any kind of medicine, treatment or surgery. Contact a doctor for advice.


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