What to eat to treat cold and cough
Colds and coughs are common health problems, especially when the seasons change. In addition to drug treatment, dietary modification can also effectively relieve symptoms. The following are the hot topics and scientific suggestions on "what to eat to treat colds and coughs" that have been hotly discussed across the Internet in the past 10 days, combined with structured data to provide you with a reference.
1. Inventory of popular dietary therapy programs

| food/drink | Efficacy | heat index | Reasons for recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| honey lemonade | Soothing throat, relieving cough, antibacterial | ★★★★★ | Natural antioxidant combination to relieve sore throat |
| Rock sugar snow pear | Clear heat and moisturize lungs | ★★★★☆ | Classic Chinese medicine prescription, suitable for dry cough without phlegm |
| ginger tea | Dispel cold and sweat | ★★★★☆ | The initial effect of cold and cold is remarkable |
| Garlic rock sugar water | Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory | ★★★☆☆ | Natural antibiotic, but tastes pungent |
| Luo Han Guo tea | Moisten the lungs and relieve cough | ★★★☆☆ | Suitable for people with long-term cough |
2. Combination recommended by nutrition experts
According to the latest recommendations from the Chinese Nutrition Society, you should pay attention to the following nutritional combinations during colds and coughs:
| Symptom type | Breakfast recommendation | Lunch recommendation | Dinner recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cough due to wind-cold (fear of cold, clearing phlegm) | Ginger jujube porridge + green onion soup | Beef stew with radish + rice | Yam Pork Ribs Soup + Noodles |
| Cough due to wind heat (sore throat, yellow phlegm) | Mung bean porridge + cold cucumber | Bitter Melon Scrambled Egg + Barley Rice | Winter melon soup + steamed buns |
| Dry cough (dry cough without phlegm) | Tremella soup + whole wheat bread | Lotus Root Pork Ribs Soup + Rice | Stir-fried celery with lily + millet porridge |
3. Five hotly debated issues on the Internet
1.Is honey really more effective than cough syrup?A recent study in the British Medical Journal showed that honey is better than some cough suppressants in relieving nighttime coughs, but it is contraindicated in infants under 1 year old.
2.Can vitamin C prevent colds?The controversy has lasted for many years. The latest meta-analysis shows that regular vitamin C supplementation can shorten the duration of colds by 8%-14%.
3.Do I need to avoid food during coughing?Traditional Chinese medicine recommends avoiding spicy, greasy, and cold drinks; Western medicine believes that as long as you are not allergic, a balanced diet is more important.
4.Is Internet celebrity salt-steamed oranges really effective?Experiments have shown that the volatile oil in orange peel does have a cough-relieving effect, but the effect varies from person to person.
5.Will coughing for a long time turn into pneumonia?Doctors emphasize that coughing is a symptom rather than a cause, but if it persists for more than 2 weeks, you should seek medical examination.
4. Dietary precautions for special groups
| crowd | Recommended food | taboo foods |
|---|---|---|
| children | Apple puree, steamed pear juice | Honey (under 1 year old), whole nuts |
| pregnant woman | Bird's nest soup, loquat paste | Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions containing ephedra |
| diabetics | Luo Han Guo Sugar Substitute Tea | Rock sugar stew, high-sugar fruits |
| elderly | Yam porridge, almond tea | Sticky rice cakes |
5. Scientific verification of dietary therapy programs
According to the latest literature analysis in PubMed, some traditional dietary therapies do have scientific basis:
| Diet therapy | active ingredients | clinical evidence level |
|---|---|---|
| ginger tea | gingerol | Level A (confirmed by 4 RCTs) |
| honey | hydrogen peroxide | Grade B (significant effect on children) |
| garlic | Allicin | Grade C (valid in vitro experiments) |
| chicken soup | Cysteine | Level B (relieves inflammatory response) |
Conclusion:A reasonable diet can indeed help relieve cold and cough symptoms, but individual differences need to be paid attention to. You can try dietary therapy when the symptoms are mild. If the symptoms continue to worsen or are accompanied by high fever, you should seek medical treatment in time. Remember "30% cure, 70% nourishment", it is equally important to maintain adequate rest and hydration.
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