Suffering from Cold or Flu? Avoid these 5 Foods

The cold wave has gripped most parts of India and ailments like flu and cold are on a high on-spread. While you would probably know what to eat to fight your flu or cold symptoms, here’s a list of 5 foods that you must avoid to get rid of these symptoms as fast as you can:

1. Rum/Whiskey
It is a misconception that drinking a peg of rum or whiskey helps alleviate symptoms of cold and flu. On the contrary, these alcoholic beverages dehydrate your body and weaken your immune system. Also, high intake of alcohol makes you susceptible to pneumonia and tuberculosis.

2. Candies

The sugar count in candies is unimaginable and must be avoided when you are already sick. Sugar causes inflammation besides weakening the White Blood Cells (WBCs), which are primarily responsible to fight infection. Thereby, eating sugar-laden food or candies debilitates your immune system.

3. Dairy

Dairy items like milk, yoghurt, cheese, thicken mucus and also facilitate its formation. Allergens find it easy to dwell and multiply in mucus or phlegm; therefore, until the time you don’t recover fully, it is better to avoid the otherwise healthy dairy foods.

4. Some Fruits

This may sound strange, however, Papaya has potent histamine-releasing powers which can make your nasal passage swell. Similarly, avoid banana too, as it can also trigger the release of histamine. Strawberries and oranges too are better avoided as they can spike the allergens.


5. Peanuts 

The otherwise healthy nut, is also a histamine promoter and can severely cause nasal congestion and inflammation of sinus.