Vitamin G

6 Foods That Might Make Your Cold Feel WORSE

This topic just happens to be on my mind extra-much right now, because I have strep throat and managed to eat some salsa a few days ago (it was mild!). And it hurt. Like, a lot. We already know that things like warm, brothy soups can help make us feel better—but what are some of the things that actually make us feel worse? That way we can avoid them! Right?

Avoid: alcohol

Liquor dehydrates you, which can, in turn, make you feel more congested. While new research shows that moderate drinking might help boost your immune system and keep infection at bay, alcohol might interact with any medications you're taking for your cold. Plus, just imagine how sting-y booze might feel on a sore throat!

Avoid: juice

A little weird—you'd think that OJ or other fruit juice would give you a nice dose of healing vitamins. But most bottled juices contain extra sugar, which can actually reduce the function of white blood cells that keep your immune system nice and healthy. Instead, have a whole orange or grapefruit—all the vitamin C but less of the sugar.

Avoid: fried foods

No, I know—comfort foods can be so craveworthy when you're feeling gross. But they're not great for you when you're healthy, so they aren't doing you many favors when you're sick either. All that saturated fat can mess with your digestion without giving your body any of the vitamins and minerals it wants and needs to feel better.

Avoid: coffee

The caffeine in coffee (and, obviously, other caffeinated drinks) can contribute to dehydration. Since what you want is basically the opposite—thus the "drink lots of water" advice for feeling better—it's better to stick with plain old water and herbal tea.

Avoid: tomatoes and other acidic foods

(Salsa [duh, Lexi] also falls into this category.) The acidity in these foods can further irritate already-irritated mucous membranes, causing more pain and discomfort. Oranges and OJ (listed above)...ugh.

Avoid: dairy products

*Maybe. *Some research has suggested that dairy just ups the production of mucus and phlegm in your body, but some experts believe that the protein and vitamin D in dairy products can help fight infection.

__Are there any foods you avoid when you have a cold? __

Photos: Thinkstock
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