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Sick? Your Comfort Foods Might Be Making You Worse
11 Dec
Summary
- Spicy foods can worsen throat irritation and coughing, experts warn.
- Alcohol significantly impairs the immune system and worsens dehydration.
- Fried, greasy, and sugary items disrupt gut health and increase inflammation.
As winter illnesses emerge, medical experts caution that common comfort foods may hinder recovery. Spicy dishes, while containing some beneficial compounds, can exacerbate throat irritation and coughing. Alcohol is particularly detrimental, as it suppresses immune cells, dehydrates the body, and disrupts the crucial gut barrier, forcing the body to fight on multiple fronts.
Fried and greasy foods also pose a risk by slowing digestion and promoting intestinal inflammation, leading to discomfort such as nausea and bloating. Similarly, sugary drinks can weaken the immune response, increase inflammation, and contribute to dehydration, counteracting the body's need for fluids during illness. These choices can negatively impact the gut microbiome and delay healing.
Instead, wellness experts recommend focusing on simple, hydrating, and easily digestible foods. Warm broths, herbal teas, electrolyte-rich beverages, oatmeal, rice, bananas, applesauce, berries, citrus fruits, and lean plant-based proteins are suggested. Prioritizing nourishing, gentle foods while avoiding inflammatory or dehydrating options can effectively support the body's natural healing processes and potentially shorten the duration of illness.
