Dr Lakshmi explained that milk coats the mucus or phlegm, making it feel thicker. That is why you may feel your cold may become worse when you drink milk or consume dairy products like curd. However, the production of phlegm does not increase because of dairy.
Milk, ice cream, cheese: Dairy gets a bad rap. Common wisdom says to avoid it when you're stuffy or runny because you'll make more mucus. But there's little evidence to support this. So if you crave ice cream to soothe that sore throat, go ahead and indulge.
During cough and cold, the intensity and severity of mucus increases and it is suggested to avoid dairy products as they can further increase mucus production.
Sugar: whether you are consuming sugar through your tea/coffee or having chocolates, sweets and pastries, sugar consumption during cough and cold should be avoided as sugar holds the potential to suppress immunity.
Dry air can irritate the throat and sinuses and make a cough worse. Air conditioning and cooling fans in the summer and heating systems in the winter can make the environment dry. Using a humidifier at night can add moisture to the air while a person sleeps. This may help soothe the throat and prevent coughing.
You don't have to cut cheese out of your diet, but if you have high cholesterol or blood pressure, use high-fat cheeses sparingly. A 30g portion of cheese provides seven per cent of your daily calories and there can be more salt in a portion of cheddar than in a packet of crisps.
Dairy can be acidic, so it may irritate your sore throat. Sometimes, dairy can thicken mucus, so it's best to avoid cheese and other forms of dairy if your sore throat is due to an upper respiratory infection. Aim for softer, non-acidic foods while your throat is hurting.
Consumption of dairy products with cold and cough causes problems – myth or fact? According to Dr Lakshmi, though it is a common belief that milk and other dairy products increase the production of mucus or phlegm when you have a cold, there is no scientific evidence to back this up.
While we all know how warm water, herbal tea, ginger, honey, and chicken soup work wonders for curing a cold and cough, researchers have suggested that yogurt could be added to this list of cold-fighting remedies!
When you are losing the battle with a cold or the flu, Full recommends scaling back on dairy products (except plain yogurt) as milk, ice cream, and even cheese can make phlegm thicker and make any existing congestion even worse.
While the effectiveness is up for debate, it is possible the egg helps coat the throat to make it feel less scratchy.
A cough is a reflex action to clear your airways of mucus and irritants such as dust or smoke. It's rarely a sign of anything serious. Most coughs clear up within 3 weeks and don't require any treatment.
Coughing is the body's way of getting irritants out of the lungs, where they could lead to an infection. In most cases, a cough will go away when the illness gets better. It might take a week or even a month or so. Sometimes, a cough might last for longer than 8 weeks.
There are two common causes of a post-viral cough in adults: Postnasal drip, when mucus drains into your throat. Inflammation, or swollen airways, related to the initial respiratory infection.
It interacts with cold receptors in the nose and throat, helping to stop coughing. Vicks VapoRub contains 2.6% menthol to help stop constant coughing fast. Vicks VapoDrops are also an effective remedy for coughs. Allow 2 drops to dissolve slowly in your mouth to help stop constant coughing.
Besides a cold, the most common causes of chronic nighttime coughing are GERD, postnasal drip, and asthma, said Dr. Dass.