Runny or stuffy nose, migraine, muscle pain, weakness, or fatigue – these are just some of the other symptoms people with either a headache, fever, or flu deal with.
In order to recover quickly so you can get on track, you need to get enough rest, drink medicines, and eat the right food. However, some food choices can worsen your headache, fever, or flu, especially if you consume too much of them. Take note of these major no-nos if you have either a headache, fever, or flu, and ideal substitutes for each of them:
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Coffee
Resist the urge to have a cup of coffee, even if your headache, fever, or flu is on the mild side. Caffeine, which is found in coffee and tea, can act as a diuretic and lead to loss of fluids from your body increasing your risk for dehydration.
Substitute with: water or herbal teas such as ginger tea or turmeric tea. These options can combat dehydration. Plus, herbal teas have additional benefits too.
For instance, ginger is known to alleviate nausea and vomiting and may have anti-inflammatory abilities. On the other hand, turmeric may offer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential because of a compound called curcumin found in the spice.
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Fried and/or oily food
Health experts recommend that you avoid these types of food even when you are not sick. But when you are dealing with headache, fever, or flu, these can be harmful.
Fried, and oily food can remain in your digestive tract longer and can make you feel more bloated. In some instances, these can pass through your body faster and cause diarrhea.
Substitute with: soup, broth, or porridge. These are good choices because these contain vitamins and minerals that may help you feel better. Sick people are often advised to eat soup, broth, porridge since these contain liquids and electrolytes that reduce risk for dehydration.
Soup, broth, or porridge may also assist with thinning mucus in your lungs, promote better moisture in your nasal passages, and fight inflammation.
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Chips and other similar junk food
Chips and other types of junk food do not contain any nutrients. As such, these will do nothing to help you recover. Moreover, the hard texture of these particular food choices can irritate your throat and worsen a cough.
Substitute with: fruits. You can never go wrong with a few slices or pieces of fresh fruit that contain lots of vitamins and minerals. Oranges, dalandan, pomelos, and other types of citrus fruits can be helpful as these have vitamin C to help combat viruses responsible for headache, fever, or flu, and assist in improving your body’s defenses.
Address Symptoms With the Proper Medicines
Aside from eating the right food, do not forget to take medicines that can address symptoms of flu such as fever, headache, or clogged or runny nose. Depending on your condition, you can utilize any of these medicines that may help target symptoms of flu.
| Headaches | Fever | Clogged or runny nose | |
| Paracetamol | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ibuprofen + Paracetamol | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Phenylephrine HCl Chlorphenamine Maleate Paracetamol | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
However, if your headache, fever, or clogged or runny nose still does not go away even after you take these medicines, seek medical attention immediately. These symptoms may be an indicator of a more severe health issue that should be resolved immediately.
References:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coffee-when-sick
https://www.healthline.com/health/what-to-eat-when-you-have-the-flu
https://www.everydayhealth.com/digestive-health/diet/foods-to-avoid-during-digestive-problems/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321786
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/teas-for-colds
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9639-headaches#symptoms-and-causes
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20352759
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/index.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272638621007125
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019938/
