Journalist section Frequently Asked Questions

Should you really "feed a cold and starve a fever"?

You do not need to do either. Instead it's better to follow your appetite, although if you are sweating a lot with a fever then it is really important to increase your fluid intake to avoid becoming dehydrated. If you feel like eating, have some protein food such as fish, chicken, meat or pulse vegetables. The stress of illness can increase protein demands. Other important nutrients needed for the production of "germ-gobbling" cells in the immune system are zinc (in seafood and red meat) plus folic acid and pro-vitamin A (beta carotene) in broccoli, spinach and carrots. MORE QUESTIONS