We take a look at what foods to try and what to steer clear from when battling with some of the symptoms of a cold.
Sitting in a quiet, crowded room and suppressing the urge to cough without much success is a scenario that many of us have experienced at least once in our lives.
Coughs can be frustrating and debilitating – particularly if you’re unable to control the onset of your symptoms. It’s normal to need to cough if something irritates your throat, if your throat is dry or if you feel the need to clear your throat before speaking.
Coughing is your body’s response to an irritant and could be caused by something as simple as some food caught in your airways. But when coughs persist for a week or longer, there’s a good chance that there’s an underlying medical cause such as a cold or flu.
Coughs are often caused by respiratory tract infections, but they can also be brought about by diseases and illnesses such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic bronchitis, certain medications and other chronic diseases.
The type of cough you have depends on the underlying cause. Coughs can be acute (lasting up to 3 weeks) or chronic (persisting over 8 weeks). They can be dry or productive (bringing up mucous), and they can be nocturnal – meaning they only occur at night.
A healthy diet in general will help you to recover from coughs and colds because you’ll be fuelling your body with the nutrients it needs to perform at its best.
Here’s a list of food to go for when trying to tame a cough:
While eating healthily is important when it comes to fighting off infections, being aware of and avoiding any foods that are likely to exacerbate your cough symptoms is also a key consideration.
Most colds are mild and will improve after a few days, but if you’re suffering from a recurring cough, it’s important to see your health professional.
References available on request.
Scientific References:
1. Satomura, Kazunari et al. Am J Prev Med. 2005 Nov;29(4):302-7.