Can I drink milk and eat eggs if I have a cold or fever?

wheneverColds comeIn addition to seeking medical advice and taking medication, there are also many sayings about "cold dietary taboos", such as "you can't drink milk when you have a cold, otherwise it willPhlegm", "You can't eat eggs when you have a fever because it will increase your body temperature," and so on. These statements seem to make sense, but are they really true? Do these ideas have any scientific basis?

Can you drink milk when you have a cold?

One common question is: Can I drink milk when I have a stuffy nose due to a cold? There is a popular belief online that dairy products like milk, cheese, and ice cream can irritate the respiratory tract, causing more and stickier phlegm or mucus, and may even worsen the condition.Stuffy noseOr it may trigger an inflammatory response, so it is recommended to reduce the intake of dairy products during a cold.

This belief actually dates back hundreds of years, not only mentioned in some ancient Chinese medical texts, but even the renowned 12th-century physician Moses Maimonides made similar observations. Even as recently as 2004, a staggering 58% of respondents still believed that milk increases phlegm and thickens mucus.

The human nasal cavity and respiratory tract naturally secrete mucus, commonly known as snot and phlegm, which protect the respiratory mucosa from external irritants and the invasion of pathogens. However, when you have a cold, excessive secretions can easily cause discomfort, such as nasal congestion and phlegm in the throat. Many people attribute these symptoms to drinking milk.

But in fact, according to a study reported by the BBC, a research team at a South Australian hospital infected the subjects with the common cold virus and asked them to drink milk. The results showed that those who originally believed that milk would increase phlegm, although they reported that milk would increase phlegm, did not drink milk.Increased phlegm, become sticky, but in actual measurement, the amount of their mucus and sputum secretions is no different from those of those who do not believe this statement.

The results of this experiment show no direct causal relationship between drinking milk and increased mucus or phlegm production. There is currently no definitive scientific evidence that dairy products worsen mucus or phlegm in people with a cold. Therefore, if you're tempted to drink milk while you have a cold, don't worry. As long as it doesn't cause significant discomfort, moderate consumption is fine and won't worsen your condition.

Can I eat eggs when I have a cold and fever?

Another common dietary myth concerns whether or not you can eat eggs when you have a cold or fever. Some believe that since your body is already at a high temperature during a fever, consuming high-calorie foods like eggs will increase internal heat, making it difficult to dissipate heat and potentially worsening your condition. Therefore, it's recommended to avoid eggs when you have a fever.

However, doctors point out that a person's body temperature naturally rises slightly after eating. This is because the digestion and metabolism of food releases a certain amount of heat, which is a normal physiological phenomenon. This temperature increase caused by eating is extremely small and has almost no negative impact on the body.

Even during a cold or fever, eating one or two eggs is generally safe. Eggs are rich in protein and nutrients, helping to replenish energy and boost immunity. Some Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners also believe that during a fever, the body's immune system weakens and nutrients are lost rapidly. Moderate consumption of high-protein foods like eggs can aid in repair and recovery.

However, if you experience gastrointestinal discomfort, poor appetite, or indigestion during a cold, it is recommended to avoid consuming fried or overcooked eggs, as these cooking methods make eggs more difficult to digest and may place a strain on the stomach. In these cases, it is recommended to choose lighter cooking methods such as boiled or steamed eggs, and the amount consumed should be determined based on your individual gastrointestinal condition.

Overall, there's no absolute contraindication to drinking milk or eating eggs when you have a cold. Drinking milk won't directly increase phlegm or mucus, and eating eggs won't make a fever worse. It all comes down to your individual constitution and current physical condition.

If you don't have a significant allergy to dairy or eggs, consuming these foods in moderation will not only not aggravate your condition but can also provide the nutrients your body needs and aid in recovery. Of course, if you experience gastrointestinal discomfort, coughing, or phlegm during a cold, you can adjust your diet based on your individual needs, opting for light, easily digestible foods.

The most important thing is that when you feel unwell, in addition to paying attention to your diet, you should also get more rest, drink enough water, and seek diagnosis and treatment from a professional doctor when necessary, so that you can get rid of the discomfort of a cold more quickly.