Yogurt is undoubtedly one of the healthiest foods to load up on. However, the same good yogurt may end up doing more harm than good to your body, if consumed during a bout of sore throat. During cough, there is accumulation of phlegm in the chest and yogurt may worsen the cough by thickening the phlegm.
This suggests that yogurt may be helpful in fighting off cold symptoms. In addition to probiotics, yogurt contains the immune booster zinc. Previous research has shown that zinc can reduce the length of time cold symptoms last.
Yogurt is a natural probiotic that can clear bacteria from your gut and protect your immune system. It's also soothing and easy to swallow when you have a sore throat. Make sure you buy yogurt without added sugars, as sugar can irritate your throat. Consider adding soft fruits to plain yogurt to boost its flavor.
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.
Yogurt: Yogurt is an excellent choice when you are sick. Not only is it rich in vitamins, minerals and calcium, it also contains probiotics, which have been shown to help with colds. Oranges: Oranges are loaded with nutrients, including vitamin C which helps fight the common cold.
To add probiotics to your diet when you're not feeling well, Dror says Greek yogurt is an excellent option. “Greek yogurt has double the protein of regular yogurt and less lactose, so it's easier on the digestive system,” she says.
Ice chips, throat sprays, lozenges or sugar-free hard candy can help keep your throat from feeling dry and scratchy. A saltwater gargle can temporarily relive a sore throat. Dissolve one-quarter to one-half teaspoon of salt in a 4- to 8-ounce glass of warm water. This can relieve a sore or scratchy throat temporarily.
Sip a Warm Beverage
The warmth of a drink like tea or lemon water can soothe a throat that feels raw or sore from coughing. Warm fluids also help to loosen mucus, making it easier to cough it up. If you add a few drops of honey, you have a natural cough suppressant (for more on that, see below).
Despite what you might have heard, milk, yogurt, and the like don't actually cause your body to produce more nasty mucus. But in some people, dairy can make the mucus that's already in your throat thicker and all around more unbearable.
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.
But there's a twist. Curd and yoghurt can actually impair digestion, if you have a weak digestive system and eat them at night. “People with digestion issues such as acidity, acid reflux or indigestion should avoid yoghurt or curd at night as it can cause constipation when the system is sluggish and sleep-ready.
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.
Things like allergies, eating spicy food, and being outside in the cold can result in a more watery nasal leakage. Your body usually makes thicker mucus when you have a cold (caused by viruses) or sinus infection (caused by bacteria).
Apples, berries, pineapples, and much more can help keep inflammation at bay. However, say no to citrus fruits during cough and cold. They are the handful of fruits to avoid during cough and cold.
Drinking tea or warm lemon water mixed with honey is a time-honored way to soothe a sore throat. But honey alone may be an effective cough suppressant, too. In one study, children ages 1 to 5 with upper respiratory tract infections were given up to 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) of honey at bedtime.
Banana is healthy and energising but should be avoided at night during winter only if the person is suffering from cough and cold or other respiratory ailments as it causes irritation when it comes in contact with mucus or phlegm.