Eggs might not be the first food you think to chow down when you're feeling under the weather, but they may be one of the best foods for a cold. They're loaded with protein, which is an important nutrient to have in your body when you're fighting an illness of any kind, explains Roger E.
To get rid of colds or dry coughs faster, you'll need to supercharge your choices in the kitchen for a few days — look to protein-rich staples like Greek yogurt, chickpeas, seeds, chicken, and eggs to fuel your immune system when you're experiencing a loss of appetite.
When you're recovering from a cold or flu and don't have much energy, eggs are probably about the easiest and fastest food to whip together. Make sure to keep the yolks in--that's where the vitamin D is. Two eggs have 160 IU of vitamin D. Eggs also contain zinc, a mineral that helps keep your immune system kicking.
Eggs contain protein and it is essential to gain some strength and energy at a time like this. In fact, eggs are also filled with vitamins B6 and B12 that help in boosting immunity. So, boiled eggs are a good choice of food during a fever.
Lean meat, poultry, fish, legumes, dairy, eggs, nuts, and seeds are good sources.
As far as what to avoid when you're sick, steer clear of foods that may fuel inflammation or stress your immune system. Those foods include refined sugar, processed foods (especially those with artificial ingredients), conventional dairy and meat, caffeine, and alcohol.
Eggs. Zinc, selenium, iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin D are some of the many nutrients in eggs that can combat and relieve a sore throat. Consider making scrambled eggs, which are warm, soft, and easy to chew and swallow.
“Oatmeal is easy, and usually gentle on the stomach,” she says. She also suggests trying toast with egg whites, drinking bone broth, or having a smoothie, if you think you can tolerate it. “Keep it simple and don't force it if you feel like you cannot even look at food,” Cording says.
You may remember Mom's long-ago advice that when you're sick, you should follow the BRAT Diet, which stands for bananas, (white) rice, apples and toast – low-fiber foods that will soothe your stomach. These plain foods are easy for the body to digest and are often recommended when someone is not feeling well.
Some symptoms, especially runny or stuffy nose and cough, can last for up to 10 to 14 days. Those symptoms should improve over time.
Caffeine and Alcohol
You're better off avoiding these. You need lots of liquids when you have a cold, but caffeine and alcohol are no-nos because they can dry you out.
Plain flavored yogurt is the best way to help your body recover from touches of the flu and colds. When choosing a yogurt, be sure to pick one that is rich with probiotics. This healthy bacteria helps shorten the duration of your illness by giving your body the strength to fight back.
Some foods, especially dairy-based foods, are known to cause excessive phlegm production. Eating foods like milk and cream can cause coughing after eating as the body tries to clear the phlegm from your airways.
Eating bananas when you are suffering from cough, cold and other problems like nausea or vomiting helps in getting rid of the diseases easier. Banana is a part of BRAT (Banana, Rice, Applesauce and Toast), a diet type recommended for people suffering from cough, cold and stomach ailments.
Eggs. Prepared simply, eggs are one of the most easily digestible foods that you can eat to help ease nausea. Scrambled, poached or soft-boiled all do the trick, giving the body a lift of energy with minimal volume.
Gogol mogol is a hot drink that is egg yolk whisked together with honey or sugar, then poured into milk that has been heated with unsalted butter. Adults have also enjoyed this with added rum or cognac. While the effectiveness is up for debate, it is possible the egg helps coat the throat to make it feel less scratchy.
Foods such as ice cream, chocolates, candies, pastries, donuts, cakes, strawberries, lychees, grapes and anything cold from the refrigerator should be avoided. "Stop these things, let's break this chain of coughs.
Vitamin C does not prevent colds and only slightly reduces their length and severity. A 2013 review of scientific literature found that taking vitamin C regularly did not reduce the likelihood of getting a cold but was linked to small improvements in cold symptoms.
As Abramson explained, when we are sick, whether we have a fever or not, our metabolic rates skyrocket, and our bodies need more calories to support that high metabolic rate.
And here's a more important solution: It's always important to eat well — especially when you're sick. Not eating when you're sick can inhibit your body's ability to heal itself. While you might crave junk foods while you're sick, they won't help your body heal either.