What to Eat When You Have a Cold

The agent that causes the cold, that is a virus, runs its course, before it gets resolved on its own. Now how much time the virus takes to self resolve, is highly individual. Most people run for over-the-counter medications whenever cold strikes. But what they do not understand is the fact that, these stuffs would never cure the condition, nor make it go away any sooner. What all they may do is create some unpleasant side effects. Common cold is a harmless condition; harmless as in, it does not give rise to any kind of complications, and so taking help from a few good old remedies at home, would provide relief from the symptoms of this condition.

Common Cold Causes and Symptoms

More than a hundred viruses can cause cold. And among these, the rhinovirus is known to be the most common. About the bothersome common cold symptoms, they include:

• Runny nose, which may be accompanied by a sore throat or itchy throat
• The nose may remain blocked most of the time, which might make breathing from the nose a difficult task
• Coughing, sneezing and watery eyes commonly occur
• Other symptoms include mild headache, fever of a low-grade, and body aches

Foods that Help Treat Cold

The first thing that comes to mind when I have a cold is nothing but a well-cooked, hot and spicy ginger chicken soup. I need not specify the magic of this food in relieving the symptoms of cold. The reason it has been known to be the best home remedy to deal with cold, is its ability to give the patient a rejuvenating feeling. But it is not only beneficial in alleviating the symptoms. Scientists have actually found that the soup serves as an anti-inflammatory agent, and it also helps in mucus drainage, thus, relieving congestion.

Apart from chicken soup, I have some more names to add in the list which include:

• Orange juice
• Cranberries, oatmeal, apples and tomato sauce
• Jalapeno peppers
• Ginger tea (or any other herbal tea)
• Brown rice
• A paste made of onion, garlic and green chillies with your regular meal
• Mixed green salad
• Steamed mixed vegetables
• Fresh fruit and vegetable juices

Foods to Avoid During Cold

In order to increase the efficacy of the above foods in relieving your common cold symptoms, you must keep an eye on even those which must be avoided. These foods include:

• Cakes
• Pastries
• White rice
• Sugar
• Coffee
• Meat
• Cheese
• Whole milk

Apart from selecting the right kind of food, it is also necessary to understand the importance of getting rest, as it gives enough time to the immune system to fight off the virus. An important tip would be to drink plenty of fluids including water. These avoid dehydration and speed up recovery. Keeping the indoor atmosphere warm also helps, and so does using salt water to gargle and using saline nasal drops. Above all, enjoy the chicken soup!