It doesn’t matter if it’s because you have bronchitis, a viral infection you caught from a coworker, or because you decided to go out on a cold day with your hair wet. When you have a terrible case of the common cold, coughing up phlegm has no redeeming qualities.
If you catch a cold, you’ll probably stock up on soups, decongestants, and other remedies to help you deal with the symptoms. But what about the things that you should avoid? These are also crucial because certain foods and beverages can aggravate your condition.
Antibiotics may have adverse side effects when used to treat the common cold. And so can the foods listed below, which you should avoid if you want to get rid of your cough and cold.
Fruits
Fruits, in addition to being delicious, are also refreshing. Coughing can also be triggered by hard, starchy fruits like raw mango, papaya, or banana. Because your body already has a high temperature when you have a cold. Eating the fruit above will cause the body to expend energy, resulting in body heat. As a result, the body temperature will rise to the point where seizures may occur.
Sugars
When you have a cold, you may crave a sugary tea or something sweet; after all, what would you do if you didn’t have some comforts? Sugar, on the other hand, will almost certainly aggravate your cough. Sugar consumption can suppress the immune system, which is especially important when fighting viral infections. This also applies to the common cold, so avoid those desserts.
Spicy food
So, you’ve probably heard that eating spicy food helps thin out mucus and makes it easier to expel when you have a cough or cold. This is correct, and the capsaicin in chilies also has a desensitizing effect and aids in inflammation management. Capsaicin also increases the amount of phlegm produced. While eating that spicy curry may temporarily alleviate your symptoms, it will aggravate your condition and delay your recovery.
Alcohol
Isn’t it true that a glass of rum mixed with honey and water would help clear your chest? Wrong! According to a study published in the journal alcohol, alcohol consumption is linked to an increase in lung and bronchial inflammation. Alcohol also reduces the number of white blood cells in your blood, which are necessary for fighting a cold. Furthermore, alcohol dehydrates you, and increased fluid intake is what you need the most when you have a cold.
Milk
When you have a cold, you may have been told to avoid milk and dairy products because they produce more phlegm, which will make things worse. Milk, on the other hand, instead of creating more phlegm in the body, makes the existing mucus thicker and more challenging to get rid of, according to studies. When you have a cold, it’s best to avoid milk in any case.