The advice is literally centuries old: Feed a cold and starve a fever.
The adage comes from a 1574 dictionary by English writer John Withals, who wrote, “fasting is a great remedy of fever.” That is in keeping with the standard for treating patients at the time, when physicians would starve or bleed someone with a fever to “cool” the body. They also called for feeding a person with a cold to “warm” them. But does following the saying help sick people feel better sooner?
UVA Today talked to University of Virginia School of Nursing associate professor Beth Quatrara to see whether food (or a lack thereof) is a remedy for illness.
Busting the myth
Despite what concerned loved ones may have told you, there’s no evidence suggesting you should feed a cold and starve a fever.
“There are health care traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation, and some of them do work. There’s science that shows eating chicken noodle soup has benefits when you’re sick. But feeding a cold and starving a fever is definitely not backed,” Quatrara said.
Beth Quatrara kneels next to "Woody," a service dog in training. Quatrara is an associate professor in Â鶹ĆĆ˝â°ć School of Nursing. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
It’s important to make sure you consume more fluids while you’re sick, and avoid alcoholic, caffeinated or sugary beverages until you are no longer under the weather.
“Starving is not good. You want to have a lot of fluids on board because – not to be gross – but your sinuses are clogged up, and you want to thin those secretions,” Quatrara said.
Some of the problem with the advice is that fevers and colds can occur at the same time. A cold typically implies a viral infection, Quatrara said, and fevers are one way the body fights infections of any kind. If you have a fever of over 100 degrees, you should seek medical attention.
Can certain foods prevent you from getting sick?
Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that. Quatrara said your best bet is to aim for a healthy, well-balanced diet. She recommends paying attention to how much protein you eat.
“We want our immune systems to get rid of the cold, get rid of the fever, and our immune system is based on proteins,” she said.
If you’re already under the weather, foods rich in antioxidants like vegetables, berries and greens have anti-inflammatory properties that may help you feel better. Honey can help soothe a sore throat and also has anti-inflammatory properties. Likewise for citrus and ginger – which is why it’s easy to find teas with some combination of lemon, ginger and honey.
