what should i eat when i have a cold?

BeautyFromPain
BeautyFromPain Posts: 4,952 Member
edited October 2 in Food and Nutrition
i have recently picked up a pesky cold and wondering if your diet should be any different when sick?
Decided just to focus on lean protein (eggs, chicken) fruit and veg. no processed stuff.

Also, do you need to eat less/more cals and the reasoning behind this?

I know you need a lot of fluids. Any help would be appreciated :)

Replies

  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    I don't know about increasing or decreasing your cals, but I would suggest increasing your vitamin C if you can. Vitamin C boosts the immune system.
  • GaiaGirl1992
    GaiaGirl1992 Posts: 459 Member
    I know dairy makes me really stuffy and does erm things to my digestive tract when I'm sick. I think if you stay with raw and cooked fruits and veggies and drink a lot you should be ok.
  • cheeksv
    cheeksv Posts: 521 Member
    I usually forget the diet.. Your body has a way of telling you what it needs and wants so when you are sick especially just go with it. Hearty soups and stuff should be just fine and you could even make your own.
  • Jesung
    Jesung Posts: 236 Member
    Get lots of vitamin D
  • Shanahan09
    Shanahan09 Posts: 97
    I still do the old standby...Homemade chicken soup :) I know it's difficult to eat when feeling ill, but the nutrition is still important for the body to fight the cold/flu.
  • CindyWarner
    CindyWarner Posts: 138
    Ginger tea. Just use a cheese grater with ginger root. Boil water and make it like tea. It's so yummy and good for you. :flowerforyou:
  • adross3
    adross3 Posts: 606 Member
    stay away from all sugars and milk. The bacteria are multiplying from your stored sugar reserves. Those sugar reserves are surrounded by antibodies. When they loose the invader grows. Don't give the invaders any sugar.

    Milk turns to phlem. Nuf said.
  • unsuspectingfish
    unsuspectingfish Posts: 1,176 Member
    Ginger tea. Just use a cheese grater with ginger root. Boil water and make it like tea. It's so yummy and good for you. :flowerforyou:

    I've actually found instant ginger tea with honey. That stuff is my best friend when I have a cold or when I'm just plain sick to my stomach.

    I usually go for soups and other soft foods when I'm sick, as they're easier to prepare and consume. If you're congested, you should definitely avoid dairy. It'll make it worse.
  • Pancake86
    Pancake86 Posts: 94
    Lots of home made chicken soup! Hope ya feel better soon x
  • Jhookism
    Jhookism Posts: 17
    hot chicken noodle soup, always does the trick for me!
  • _Ben
    _Ben Posts: 1,608 Member
    Vitamin C and Zinc boosting immune system...... not gonna even bother with that one

    I have always believed eat what you want when you are sick. Your body normally tells you what it needs. When I have a fever, I want Ice cream. When I have the flu, I want crackers. A cold? If its bad, usually nothing, because I do eat, normally my food will go into my gut covered in mucus (sounds great doesnt it?) and then I get really sick. Do what your body says IMO. Warm soup seems to help a lot of poeple though, I just hate soup is all lol. Personally, I prefer something with carbs, as it is easier to access energy for your body to use to fight off the disease or infection/ My fav is normally kraft mac and cheese
  • jillfrd
    jillfrd Posts: 29 Member
    i just cooked my sick hubby chicken soup. its pretty easy (i'm a fairly average cook) and is super healthy. if in doubt ask for help in your deli section (i did and that's how I got this receipe!)

    get raw chicken (i got half a chicken breast with the bones). The deli lady to remove all the skin (skin = fat and grease = bad for colds). then I boiled some water, put the chicken in it for 2 minutes, then removed it. This was to 'clean the chicken' of any leftover grease.

    then I took a big stock pot. put in a dash of oil and added in 1/2 brown onion (cut up into quaters), a carrot roughly cut up, and a celery roughly cut up. cook these for 5 minutes, then add in 4 litres of water the chicken. bring to the boil, and once boiling then turn down to simmer. leave for like 45mintues. This makes the stock.

    Take the chicken out of the stock. set aside to cook a bit. Drain the stock-some receipes say over a muslin but I just used a fine sieve. Set stock aside.

    Go back to the big stock pot. put in three carrots (sliced a bit finer this time) 2-3 celery (sliced up) and 3-4 crushed garlic cloves. I also took some ginger, a piece about as big as my thumb. Deli lady said to wash the dirt off but don't take off skin. then either slice it or crush it (I crushed it). Cook the veggies with a dash of oil for about 5 minutes. Then add back in the stock and let cook til vegs go tender.

    In the meantime, pull the chicken meat off the bone. Throw away bones and icky bits. Once the veggies are soft in the pot, put the chicken back in. also put in some cabbage (I used a whole baby wombok (chinese) cabbage). I also added a tin of sweet corn. Cook till its all nice and hot. Sprinkle with some parsley. yum yum!

    best of all...it made 10 servings and when I used the receipe thing it worked out at around 71 calories per serving. YUM!
  • oneoddsock
    oneoddsock Posts: 321 Member
    Plenty of water, and whatever else your body wants. I guess you won't really feel like overeating when you're ill anyway. Hope you feel better soon!
  • kitinboots
    kitinboots Posts: 589 Member
    I always eat a lot of hot and spicy food when I have a cold. Is that good or bad?
  • k4evans1
    k4evans1 Posts: 145 Member
    No sugar. No dairy. I heard chicken soup actually does work and is not just something people say. Also lots of fluids. My doctor told me to actually warm up my water when I'm sick so I'll take a mug of water and put it in the microwave for 80-90 seconds. It helps clear up your sinuses too!
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    I always eat a lot of hot and spicy food when I have a cold. Is that good or bad?

    The only real benefit to that (I would think) is that it can help clear your sinuses which is usually where the germs like to hang out.
  • Melmade
    Melmade Posts: 349 Member
    I still do the old standby...Homemade chicken soup :) I know it's difficult to eat when feeling ill, but the nutrition is still important for the body to fight the cold/flu.

    ^^This!^^ And make sure to include garlic, carrot, celery, onion. Noodles if you like. Keep exercising as well, unless you have a fever. That will help your immune system. Also get plenty of sleep. Feel better!!!
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