Feed a Cold and Starve a Fever??

debsclio
debsclio Posts: 24
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I have the first cold of the winter and as winter closes in colds and fover's are going to get more common. Do you really feed a cold becasue you burn more calories and starve a fever?

Replies

  • ebony__
    ebony__ Posts: 519 Member
    It's what I always do,
    Boost my immune for a cold with garlic olive leaf etc..
    Sweat it out wih a fever + lots of water
  • pkw58
    pkw58 Posts: 2,038 Member
    I just down homemade chicken soup for both and drink as much fluids as I can.
  • MouseFood
    MouseFood Posts: 169 Member
    I would have thought you'd burn more calories if you had a fever, to be honest, but I'm not really sure either is true :)

    Just make sure you eat healthfully, get vitamins, plenty of liquids, etc.

    A friend of mine's doctor got her on a 'slow release vitamin C' as the normal ones are mainly wasted when they just go straight through your system. I've not tried it but it seems to be working for her.

    tho, I always get ill no matter what I do ... at least once a winter. Last winter-- 4 times :(
  • kabarnes45
    kabarnes45 Posts: 89 Member
    Yep. Feed a cold to keep up your energy and fight it off even though nothing tastes right. Starve a fever because fever can upset your stomach- eat some but light and bland. Get well soon!
  • debsclio
    debsclio Posts: 24
    Thank you very much everyone your comments are very useful.
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    It's a myth brought about by not feeling like eating when you have a fever:
    http://coldflu.about.com/od/cold/qt/feedstarvecold.htm

    Carry on eating healthily, take a rest from heavy exercise and you'll feel better much quicker.
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    Unless you're vomiting, you should eat.

    I think it also makes sense to point out that dieting and recovering from illness don't always work together. Restricting calories too greatly will compromise your immune system, which might even be why you got sick in the first place. If you're sick, you may want to reset your calories to maintenance until you recover, rather than stick to your calorie deficit and lengthen your illness.
  • takerbrat
    takerbrat Posts: 81 Member
    When I was hit with a cold I went online in search of a soup recipe. I found the following and modified it a bit (added chili pepper flakes and the bell peppers) -

    Flu Buster Garlic Onion Soup

    Ingredients:
    2 tbsp olive oil
    1 large onion sliced thin
    8 cloves of garlic, minced
    2 tbsp flour
    2 tbsp paprika
    1 tsp caraway seeds
    1/4 tsp chili pepper flakes
    2 litres (1 litre equal 1 quart) vegetable broth
    1 litre water
    1 red bell pepper, stem and seeds removed, chopped in 1 inch pieces
    2 orange bell peppers, stem and seeds removed, chopped in 1 inch pieces
    salt and pepper to taste
    serve with croutons and fresh parsley

    - in a soup pot heat oil on medium; add onions and garlic. Cook for several minutes until onions start to caramelize (brown). Reduce heat and cook until most of the onions have turned a dark brown
    - remove from heat and sprinkle with flour and paprika; slowly stir in broth and water. Bring to a boil- season with caraway seeds, salt and pepper; reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the bell peppers in the last 5 - 7 minutes of cooking
    - serve with fresh chopped parsley and handful of croutons
  • Danied13
    Danied13 Posts: 117 Member
    Your body needs energy...feed it. If you don't feel like eating, at least try drinking your calories -- broths, smoothies, soups. Dairy can increase mucous production, so if you drink cow's milk you may want to switch to a non-dairy version if you have a stuffy nose.
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