Although a cold is not a serious illness, it can be quite distressing once you get it. During a cold, people usually lose their appetite, but not eating at all is even more detrimental to recovery. Here are the dietary do's and don'ts for when you have a cold.
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1. Light broths and congee.
When you have a cold, your digestive function is weakened. Light broths and congee are relatively easy to digest. At the same time, hot soups and congee can induce sweating, but be sure to replenish fluids after sweating.
2. Steamed chicken and fish.
When the body is relatively weak, it's important to supplement with high-quality protein. Chicken and fish contain many essential amino acids for the human body, and their protein is easy to digest and absorb, which can enhance the body's resistance to cold viruses.
3. Radish.
The carotene in radishes may help prevent colds and alleviate symptoms like excessive phlegm. A recommended preparation: Chop the radish and juice it. Pound some ginger, extract a small amount of ginger juice, and mix it with the radish juice. Then, add warm water to make a drink.
4. Onions and garlic.
The pungent smell of onions can help ward off colds and has a certain antibacterial effect. Onions can also stimulate the secretion of the stomach, intestines, and digestive glands, increasing appetite and promoting digestion. Garlic contains a pungent substance called "allicin," which has a good inhibitory effect on pathogens and parasites.
5. Honey.
It contains various biologically active substances that can stimulate the body's immune function. Taking it twice daily in the morning and evening can enhance the body's immunity and resist viral infections.
Winter Colds: 5 Foods to Avoid
1. Sweet foods.
During a cold, high-sugar fruits and desserts should be avoided. Sweet foods not only increase the viscosity and amount of phlegm but can also cause bloating and suppress appetite. High-sugar fruits include mangoes, grapes, lychees, sugarcane, pineapples, and red dates.
2. High-salt foods.
Reducing salt intake can increase the lysozyme content in saliva, protecting the oral and pharyngeal mucosal epithelial cells and enabling them to secrete more immunoglobulins and interferin to fight cold viruses.
However, you should not completely avoid salt when you have a cold, because the body loses some sodium ions during heavy sweating. Salt in cooking is a way to supplement this. The daily salt intake during a cold should be controlled to within 5 grams.
3. High-fiber foods.
During a cold, the stomach's motility is weaker, so it's best to avoid high-fiber foods like celery, chives, and crown daisy during this time, as they can increase the burden on the digestive system.
4. Spicy foods.
Stimulating foods like chili can further disrupt the fragile gastrointestinal function and may even cause nausea and vomiting.
5. Strong tea and strong coffee.
Strong tea and strong coffee can cause gastrointestinal discomfort and sometimes trigger gastroesophageal reflux.
Finally, a reminder: do not believe in the so-called "starvation therapy." Not eating will only lead to insufficient energy, low blood sugar, and a weakened immune system, which offers no help in recovering from a cold.
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