Dos and Don'ts for Eating When You're Sick
Firstly, the body requires more calories to function normally when you’re sick, because the body works harder than usual to fight infection, and in order to effectively do this, it needs to maintain higher energy levels. Fuelling the body correctly is an essential part of getting better.
DO
Eat broth based soups. Chicken soup is notorious for helping you get back on your feet. The reason being, that chicken contains an amino acid called cysteine which helps to thin the mucus in the lungs, while the broth helps to keep nasal passages moist and prevents dehydration.
Do
Drink tea. Warm liquids soothe sore throats, especiallya green tea which is full of infection-fighting antioxidants.
DO
Suck on an ice lolly. Keeping you water intake up is key to getting better. While it’s generally better to eat fruit rather than drink it, ice lollies are a great way hydrate and are especially easy on the throat. If they’re made from 100 per cent juice or whole fruits, all the better!
Do
Eat spicy foods, but only if you don’t have any accompanying stomach issues that could get irritated as a result. Spicy foods such as chillies, wasabi and horseradish are effective natural decongestants, relieving the symptoms of congestion by making our noses run and our eyes water.
Do
Eat a banana! Packed with potassium which is easily depleted through sweat, vomiting and diarrhoea, these help to lower the body temperature and replenish lost electrolytes.
Do
Incorporate some ginger into your daily routine. Drinking ginger tea or flat ginger ale keeps you hydrated and settles the stomach.
Don’t
Eat anything high in sugar or fat. High sugar intake suppress the immune system and cause inflammation, while foods high in fat can be more difficult to digest compared to carbs and protein, triggering stomach pains as a result.
Don’t
Consume dairy if you can avoid it. According to science buffs, dairy promotes mucus production which worsens congestion when you’re sick.
