Whether it’s a cold, fever or gastrointestinal infection – when we’re sick, what we eat plays a major role. Because certain foods can alleviate or worsen our symptoms. We explain which 5 foods you should not eat when you are sick.
Sore throat, cough, fever or gastrointestinal problems – being ill is always unpleasant and usually ties us to bed. Right now, in autumn, the cold season is beginning again and the cases of flu and gastrointestinal diseases are also increasing. If you are ill, you naturally want to get well as quickly as possible. What most people don’t know is that what we eat can both relieve and aggravate the symptoms of illness. Depending on the type of condition, there are certain foods that you should avoid.
Table of Contents
5 foods not to eat when you are sick
1. Dairy products
Bad news for all milk lovers: If you suffer from a gastrointestinal infection, you should definitely stay away from cheese, yoghurt and the like! Dairy products are taboo, especially in the case of diarrhea, because they have a high fat content and are difficult to digest. In addition, the disease can lead to a short-term lactase deficiency, which can lead to the lactose from the milk being digested more poorly and diarrhea symptoms worsened.
2. Ginger
Due to the gingerol it contains, ginger has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and can therefore work wonders for colds and, for example, soothe inflamed mucous membranes. In the case of gastrointestinal problems, however, the tuber should not be eaten, because it stimulates the metabolism and digestion and can even aggravate the symptoms.
3. Fast Food
If you are ill, you feel too weak to cook. Nevertheless, you should refrain from eating fast food if you have a cold or flu or if you have a gastrointestinal infection. Because unhealthy fast food is high in fat, our bodies take longer to process the food, which can worsen symptoms like nausea and diarrhea. The same applies to cold symptoms and fever – on top of that, the body needs foods that provide it with important vitamins and nutrients.
4. Sweets
Just like fast food, sweets should not be on your menu when you are ill. The reason? Sugar can cause inflammation in the body, weakening our already compromised immune system . Incidentally, this not only applies if you are already ill, but is also important for the prevention of illnesses and infections.
5. Coffee
Do you start the day with a cup of coffee in the morning and can’t do without a hot drink in the afternoon? If you’re healthy, that’s even healthy, because coffee in moderation has a positive effect on your health – but if you’re sick, you should avoid drinking coffee. This applies in particular to gastrointestinal diseases. The caffeine contained in the hot drink stimulates intestinal activity and can also irritate the intestines, especially in the case of diarrhea. On top of that, coffee has a diuretic effect and thus also promotes the loss of water, which the body has to deal with anyway when it comes to diarrhea.
