Experts say you should eat by yourself when you have a cold or fever

FRIDAY, Jan. 26, 2024 (HealthDay News) — The old belief that you have to feed when you have a cold and starve when you have a fever is nonsense, doctors say.

People battling seasonal respiratory viruses, regardless of symptoms, need proper nutrition, according to recommendations from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Fever is just one of many defense mechanisms the body uses to avoid any infection, said Dr. Pedro Piedra, professor of molecular virology, microbiology and pediatrics at Baylor University.

All of the body’s immune responses require energy from a balanced diet, Piedra said. This is why disease-friendly foods like chicken noodle soup are often recommended.

Feeling uncomfortable due to an infection may affect a person’s appetite, but Piedra said people should resist the discomfort and reach for a spoon or fork.

Cold weather tends to increase people’s risk of contracting the flu, common cold and COVID-19, Piedra said.

That’s because when it’s cold outside, people tend to huddle indoors.

“Colder temperatures also allow viruses to survive longer on surfaces, and Houston’s humidity also helps these viruses survive outside their hosts,” Piedra added during a Baylor news conference.

“There’s also a myth that if your hair is wet and you’re in a cold environment, you’ll get sick. That’s true to a certain extent,” Piedra added. “You won’t get the virus, but you will weaken your immune system, which can lead to illness.”

In addition to eating enough, patients should make sure to stay hydrated, Piedra said.

Hot tea is a great remedy that not only helps hydrate you but also relieves sore throats.

Sore throats can also be treated by gargling with warm salt water, which can relieve irritation and clear excess mucus from the back of the throat.

Piedra also recommends that people who have just been sick get tested for the flu or coronavirus and, if positive, ask their doctor about medications that can shorten the illness.

“Doctors can prescribe antiviral medications that can relieve symptoms of many viruses, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2, but they must be taken early in the infection to ensure they are effective,” Piedra said. “If you have a cold, flu, or COVID-19 infection Worsening, you start to have trouble breathing, or you feel uncomfortable after moving, contact your doctor as this may be a sign that your condition is getting worse.”

As always, prevention is the best cure, Piedra added.

Piedra said vaccines for influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus can help prevent respiratory infections, and people can minimize their risk by wearing masks and monitoring their hands regularly.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information about respiratory illness season.

Source: Baylor College of Medicine, press release, January 24, 2024

What this means for you:

Eating well and staying hydrated will help you overcome respiratory infections.