Whatever you are treated for a cold, nutrition plays an important role. Depending on what foods you will eat, recovery may come unexpectedly earlier or take a long time.
On the one hand, during the disease, the body needs more calories than normal life because it spends a lot of energy fighting viruses and bacteria. On the other hand, his huge work aims to raise the immune system, and the processes of digesting food distract from the main business. Therefore, meals during this period should be high in calories but as easy to digest as possible.
What to eat for colds and flu
Chicken broth
With a small number of noodles, it perfectly makes up for the lack of calories, and due to the liquid consistency of the dish, it is absorbed quickly and without unnecessary effort. Chicken is rich in amino acids, which help to relieve inflammation. An additional portion of liquid will save you from dehydration at high temperatures.
Warm tea
Everyone knows about the benefits of tea during illness. It helps to save the body from dehydration, relieves sore throats, helps to thin the mucus in the nose, and the upper respiratory tract helps perspiration. Tea contains antioxidants that remove toxins-the breakdown of products of viruses and bacteria from the body. For the body to spend as little energy as possible to equalize the drink’s temperature and the body temperature (under this condition, the liquid is well absorbed), tea should be drunk as close as possible to the temperature of the patient. Lemon and ginger added to tea will speed up recovery and make up for the lack of vitamins.
Pastries and flour products
The use of flour, delightful, can provoke an increase and thickening of mucus, making it difficult to discharge. During colds, give up white bread and pastries in favor of crackers, crackers, and toast. They are easier to digest and do not carry unnecessary excess moisture.
Spicy food
Spicy food will work as a punch for the nose, eyes, and throat. Do not be surprised if you start actively clearing your throat and blowing your nose – the process of separation and purification from mucus has begun. It would help if you did not get carried away with such food, but you need to add peppercorn to your menu during your illness.
Citrus fruits
Without vitamin C, it isn’t easy to imagine the process of recovery. He gives strength to the body and helps the immune system in the fight against the disease. The maximum amount of vitamin is found in citrus fruits. Plus, citrus fruits contain flavonoids, which increase the chances of recovery. This applies not only to the traditional lemon. Ascorbic acid is found in oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, sweets, limes.
Ginger
Ginger is good both for prevention and as an adjunct in treating acute respiratory diseases and their complications. Since ginger has a positive effect on the digestive system, it will become an additional strength for the digestion of food by a weakened body. Ginger also copes wonderfully with inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, and ginger tincture is even gargled for sore throats.
What you can’t eat
Spicy and sour food
Despite the benefits of spicy seasonings during illness, if there are diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or inflammation in the intestines, then spicy and acidic food during a cold will only add to the problems – heartburn, pain, and nausea.
Sweet and greasy
Sweets undermine the strength of the already tense immune system and provoke increased inflammation. Also, sugar “binds” mucous secretions-prevents coughing in bronchitis and can greatly complicate the course of the disease. Fatty foods are difficult to digest, and therefore are not very suitable for anti-cold therapy and can provoke pain and indigestion.
Milk
Nutritionists disagree on whether milk contributes to stagnant secretions during a cold. Therefore, it is recommended to start from your own feelings, and if dairy products cause discomfort, it is better to abandon them until full recovery.