Ah yes. The age old adage, "starve a cold, feed a fever"
…but does the type of illness we have determine how much we eat?
Eating and drinking can be hard to do when you're not feeling well, but eating the right foods can help you feel better faster. | Image: ljubaphoto/E+/GettyImages
When you're sick, you're likely to do anything to get better faster and back on your feet. And whether you feel like it or not, it's important to eat enough food to fuel your body. When you're sick and not eating enough, your body will start to break down muscle tissue for energy which can make you feel even weaker.
So even though you may be feeling less hungry than usual, know this: The body's response to inflammation demands and uses a significant amount of energy to sustain an immune response and fight infection.
If you're not feeling well enough to eat solid foods, try drinking nutrient-rich smoothies or soup, because having even at least a little bit of food in your stomach will make you feel better, and gives your body the energy to fight off the infection.
You also want to focus on hydrating as well. Having a cold or the flu can increase your risk of dehydration, especially if you're experiencing vomiting or diarrhea. Vomiting and diarrhea can cause your body to lose a lot of fluids very quickly. You expel not only the fluid from your stomach but also the electrolytes that were dissolved in it. Drinking plenty of fluids — especially water — helps replace the fluids lost through vomiting and diarrhea. You can also help the healing process by eating foods high in water such as fruits and vegetables to replenish your body's fluids.
The best foods to eat when you are sick and in need of hydration should contain fruits, vegetables, and lean protein sources.
Here is a handy list of the most beneficial and healing foods:
Honey: Honey can help soothe a sore throat and calm coughs.
Chicken soup: Chicken soup is a classic sick day meal that can help clear out your sinuses and make you feel better. Hot broth and chicken is rich in the amino acid cysteine, which can act as an antioxidant to help your body break down mucus in the lungs.
Fruit Smoothie: Drinking raw nutrients can be helpful when you're not feeling hungry or your body aches.
Ginger: This can help clear your sinuses and has antimicrobial properties to help fight illness causing bacteria.
Bananas: Bananas are a great source of carbohydrates and calories that are easy on the stomach. And bananas can help replenish lost electrolytes.
Coconut water: We know that staying hydrated is key, and coconut water is more hydrating than water and contains electrolytes like sodium and potassium. Hot tip: One cup of coconut water has 11% of your daily value!
Hot tea: Hot tea can help you stay hydrated, soothe a sore throat, and relieve other symptoms you may have. Herbal tea like ginger helps calm nausea and fight inflammation, while chamomile tea helps you relax.
Greek Yogurt: This not only makes for a light snack but an easy way to sneak in some protein when your appetite is low. The probiotics in yogurt can help restore the balance of good bacteria in the gut.
