You may get cold and cough about 2 to 3 times a year as it is a common illness. During this time, you may not feel like eating or drinking much, but it is extremely important to provide the required nutrition to your body to recuperate quickly. You will find a list of food recommendations here for a diet for cold and cough.
In this blog you will find a list of foods to eat during cold and fever.
What food to eat during cough and cold?
If you are wondering what to eat during cold and cough, you are in the right place. Eating the right food can help you recover faster and feel better during a cold and cough. Following are some of the best food during cough and cold :Â
1. Soup
Soup is one of the best food for cough relief. Soups are easy to digest and contain enough nutrition to suffice your appetite. Vegetarians can go for vegetable or sweet corn soup, and non-vegetarians can benefit from drinking chicken soup. The warm liquid soothes a sore throat and helps in loosening mucus.
Although it is better to have freshly prepared soup from raw vegetables, you can still benefit from a warm instant soup.
2. Tea
This one definitely features in the list of best foods to eat during cold and sore throat. By replacing your snacks with a hot cup of tea (preferably without milk and sugar), you can feel the soreness of your throat reduce as the mucus and viruses wash off. In addition, the warmth will help clear out your congested nasal passage.
The best tea during cold and cough will likely be the one with ginger and honey due to their anti-inflammatory properties. As per Ayurveda, both the ingredients are extremely beneficial during cold and cough.
3. Porridge, khichadi, or simply dal and steamed rice
If you are still wondering what to eat during cold, here’s your answer. When you are sick, your digestive system benefits from consuming light meals, such as porridge. They are easy to cook, and you can add some vegetables to such meals for added nutrition and taste. Porridge, khichadi, dal and steamed rice are one of the best foods to eat during cold. However, avoid having sweet porridge with sugar and milk.
Porridge, khichadi, dal and steamed rice are one of the best foods to eat during cold.However, avoid having sweet porridge with sugar and milk.
4. Vegetables
Vegetables are an extremely good source of nutrition, especially green leafy ones. You can simply have sautéed vegetables (with much less butter or ghee than the original recipe) or have the regular vegetable prepared at home. Your body will be able to digest cooked vegetables more easily as compared to raw salads.
5. Fruits
Fruits good for cough are apples, pomegranates, papaya, apricots, and litchi. Apples are available throughout the year; so, if you can’t find anything else, you can eat them. Some people lose their appetite during an illness. So, they can eat fruits for cold and cough to supplement the lack of nutrition during the day.
6. Dry fruits, nuts, and seeds
The list of the best food during cough and cold cannot be complete without mentioning dry fruits. Many people consider these small nuts, seeds, and dried fruits as superfoods as they contain disproportionate amounts of nutrients to their size. There is no exception here, you can have anything from almonds, flax seeds, walnuts, to raisins. Dry Fruits are one of the best foods to eat during cold weather.
Also Read : 10 Amazing Health Benefits Of Dry Fruits
Now that you have a fair idea about what to eat when you have a cold and cough, let us make a note of what not to eat during cough and cold.
Foods to avoid during cough and cold
1. Caffeinated beverage, alcohol, and cocktails
Number 1 foods to avoid during cough are caffeinated beverage, alcohol, and cocktails. All these beverages are known to dehydrate the body. Since a significant chunk of your body’s water reserve is being used to make mucus, you are recommended to drink plenty of fluids and stay properly hydrated; drinking the aforementioned beverages is counterproductive.
2. Sweets and candies
Sugar-rich foods should be avoided during cough and cold as they are known to cause inflammation. During common cold, your respiratory tract is already inflamed; consuming sweets can add burden to your respiratory tract and increase the severity of your symptoms.
3. Hard to digest food or heavy meals
As your body is focusing on fighting the infection (likely the cause of your cold and cough), it may find food such as butter chicken, shahee paneer, and fried fritters, difficult to digest. This may drain even more energy from you, leaving you feeling tired and irritable.
4. Dairy products
Another item in the list of food to avoid during cough are dairy products. You may have heard that consuming milk, cheese, paneer, curd, or ice cream, during cough and cold can end up aggravating the symptoms. Although it does not have solid research for backup, you should avoid these food items according to Ayurveda as well. If you are sceptical, like most, you can try having it for 1 to 2 meals and see if it impacts your health adversely to make your decision. You’ll likely know in a few hours of consuming these products whether you should eat them again or not.
5. Certain fruits
Fruits to avoid during cough and cold are fruits that are citrus in nature should be avoided when you have cough and cold, as people often complain about their coughs getting worse after eating them. Although vitamin C (all citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C) is good for your immunity, it works best as a precautionary measure in the case of cough and cold. Citrus fruits are acidic in nature, and they may cause acid reflux, inflaming your oesophagus and resulting in increased coughs. Citrus fruits are also debated food items; you can use the trial-and-error method for these as well to see if they fall under the category of ‘foods to avoid during cold and cough’ for you.
Also Read :Â Best Cold & Cough Treatment
Diet Tips for Cold & Cough Patients
1. You may not feel like eating much, but you should avoid skipping meals. Your body will benefit from a nutrition boost after a meal and recover fast.
2. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
3. Do not over-eat or consume hard-to-digest foot items as it will make you feel drained of energy later.
Also Read : How To Beat The Winter Coughs And Colds And Stay Healthy?
Foods to eat during cold and cough include: It is best to eat cooked vegetables as they are easier for your body to digest. This does not mean you cannot eat raw vegetables; you can munch on a salad for lunch, but you might end up feeling more irritable and tired than you would feel if you had eaten properly cooked simple meals. A perfect diet includes properly cooked food, including vegetables, pulses, and grains, that is easy to digest. You can also have tea during the day to ease your sore throat and reduce coughs. Additionally, fruits, nuts, seeds, and dry fruits can be a great source of nutrition as snacks. You should avoid the following food items: Eating nutrition-rich food that is easy to digest can provide you with the required energy and nutrition to recover fast. Thus, yes, paying more attention to your diet during cold and cough will help you get well soon. Porridge, khichadi, dal and steamed rice are one of the best foods to eat during cold.However, avoid having sweet porridge with sugar and milk. Yes. Eating rice in simple form like having steamed rice or khichdi as our digestive system benefits from consuming light meals during cold and cough. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and avoid over eating or consuming hard-to-digest food items instead eat nutritious food and rest well for a fast recovery. Yes, you can eat papaya when you have a cold and cough. Papaya is rich in vitamin C, which can help boost your immune system and reduce inflammation. The beta-carotene and vitamin C and E found in papayas can help reduce symptoms of cold and cough. However, it's always a good idea to consume papaya in moderation since excessive consumption of papaya can lead to various health issues. It is generally advised to avoid dairy products, including paneer, when you have a cough and cold. Dairy products can increase mucus production, which may make your symptoms worse and make you feel more congested. If you have a strong craving for paneer, consider having it in moderation and observe how your body reacts. But avoid eating paneer in a heavy, oily gravy. If you notice increased mucus or discomfort, it's best to avoid it until you recover. It is generally recommended to avoid citrus fruits during a cold. Citrus fruits can irritate a sore throat and increase mucus production. However, if you are able to catch an early sign of a cold or cough and have citrus fruits before, it could help prevent the cold or reduce the length of the sickness. Grapes can also have an unfavourable effect on a sore throat. Chickoo’s grainy texture could irritate the throat. The water in watermelon may lead to more mucus production, as it weakens stomach acid. Unfortunately, there is no fix for a cough with phlegm that makes it go away entirely in an instant. However, there are ways to relieve symptoms early. Drinking plenty of fluids helps flush out a cough. You can use over-the-counter medication too. Honey can help soothe the irritated throat. You can also gargle with salt, keep the air moist, and use a nasal spray to clear congestion. A cough can weaken and dehydrate your body. Hot water is generally the best solution. If you don’t want to have water, you can try coconut water. It is hydrating and can soothe a scratchy throat. Coconut water’s hydrating properties can replenish whatever fluids are lost during a cough and cold. It is the best natural replacement for water. Pomegranates are rich in antioxidants and bioactive compounds. You can make pomegranate peel tea at home, which can act as a remedy for a cough. The tannins, flavonoids, and polyphenols in the fruit have antiviral and antibacterial properties. They could soothe a sore throat and reduce itching. The vitamin C in oranges is great for fighting off a cold. However, the citric acid in oranges is bad for your throat. It is recommended to consume oranges with care and in moderation when you have a cold and a cough. Curd is nutritionally rich, containing protein, calcium, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals. Probiotics are good bacteria that help boost your immune system. Similarly, dairy products are also often seen as increasing mucus production. There is very little concrete research that indicates curd can be good or bad. It is best to consider your body’s tolerance to curd during a cold or cough. Apples are safe and highly nutritious. Unlike citrus fruits, the mild acidity in apples can be soothing. Apples are a good source of fiber and Vitamin C, which can help boost the immune system. If you have acid reflux, moderation is recommended. Whole milk may not necessarily increase mucus production, it can thicken mucus in some individuals. If it does not thicken mucus production, having warm milk with turmeric can be soothing. Turmeric has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and may result in some comfort from sore throat. Parts of the banana tree have historically been used during fevers, coughs, colds, etc. Bananas could be a good source of nutrients when you are sick. It can help soothe a sore throat. Bananas can also sooth acid reflux. However, they may also induce congestion-like symptoms. So, while a banana may not induce a cough, it may or may not worsen a cough. Studies are still being conducted on the success of chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, in suppressing cough. Dark chocolate may provide temporary relief. The theobromine in chocolate is said to suppress a cough. Grapes contain histamine, which can trigger allergic reactions. This could potentially worsen a cough. If you are consuming grapes during a cough, it is recommended to eat them at room temperature. Diet for Cold & Cough FAQS
What foods are good for cough and cold?
a. Fruits like apples and papaya
b. Soups
c. Tea
d. Cooked vegetables
e. Porridge
f. Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, raisins, etc.Is eating raw vegetables good in cold and cough?
What is a perfect diet for cold and cough?
What food to avoid during cold and cough?
a. Alcohol or beverages with caffeine and/or alcohol to avoid dehydration
b. Hard-to-digest food items such as deep-fried fritters to avoid straining your body to spend additional energy for digestion
c. Sugar-rich food to avoid additional inflammationCan proper foods for cold and cough help me recover fast?
What is the best meal for a cold?
Can I eat rice in cough?
How can I speed up my cold recovery?
Can we eat papaya in cold and cough?
Can we eat paneer in cough and cold?
Which fruit should be avoided in the cold?
What is the fastest way to cure a cough with phlegm?
Does coconut water increase cough?
Is pomegranate good for a cough?
Can we eat oranges during a cold and cough?
Is it ok to eat curd during a cough and cold?
Can we eat an apple during a cold and cough?
Can we drink milk during a cough and cold?
Does a banana cause a cough?
Is chocolate good for a cough?
Are grapes good for a cough?
