What should you eat when you have a cold?

Written by Li Jian Wu

Pulmonology

Updated on April 06, 2025

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For the disease of the common cold, one should primarily consume light foods and eat more foods rich in vitamin C such as apples, bananas, kiwis, dragon fruits, and mangoes. Medically, one should choose antipyretic analgesics, which can help alleviate symptoms like headache and sore limbs. If symptoms include a runny nose and sneezing, one may take Chlorpheniramine Maleate to suppress gland secretion. Concurrently, using Qingkailing granules or antiviral oral solutions can provide antiviral targeted treatment.

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Written by Guo Xiao Yun

Pulmonology

59sec

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What is wind-heat cold?

Wind-heat cold is a term used in traditional Chinese medicine, referring to a type of cold caused by the invasion of heat into the body. Clinically, it mainly presents with symptoms such as coughing, coughing up purulent sputum, thick and abundant sputum that is difficult to expel, as well as high fever with chills. The body temperature can reach above 39°C within a few hours, and there may also be headaches, dizziness, sore limbs, fatigue, and sore, swollen throat. Therefore, patients with wind-heat cold should drink plenty of water and take some heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese patent medicines orally. For patients with a body temperature higher than 38.5°C, antipyretic medication such as ibuprofen should be taken orally to reduce the temperature back to normal. In daily life, it is important to focus on a light diet and avoid spicy and irritating foods.

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Written by Yuan Qing

Pulmonology

1min 21sec

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What is the difference between viral cold and wind-heat cold?

The distinction between viral influenza and wind-heat cold is mainly the different naming conventions used by two different medical systems for the common cold. Viral influenza is a term used in modern medicine to describe a viral infection. In contrast, wind-heat cold is a term used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for a type of cold that occurs after being affected by a pathogenic heat. These two terms are completely different. The pathogen of viral influenza is primarily caused by a viral infection. On the other hand, wind-heat cold is diagnosed based on symptoms, suggesting that the individual might have been affected by pathogenic heat, or has internal heat, leading to the condition. Therefore, generally, viral influenza is not treated with traditional Chinese medicine. Wind-heat cold, conversely, is not treated with Western medicine. So, if diagnosed with viral influenza, one would typically take some antiviral medications along with Western cold medicines. If diagnosed with wind-heat cold by a TCM practitioner, some appropriate heat-clearing and detoxifying Chinese medicines would be prescribed. These represent two distinct medical systems with their unique diagnostic labels for the illness.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu

Pulmonology

1min 23sec

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What foods can you eat when you have a cold and a fever?

Generally, when experiencing a cold or fever, it is important to focus on eating light and easily digestible foods. This is because our gastrointestinal function tends to decline during the cold and fever stages. Consuming spicy, greasy, and indigestible foods at this time may add extra burden to the stomach and intestines, leading to indigestion. Additionally, there might be symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, or even diarrhea. Therefore, it is advisable to consume warm, well-cooked foods such as porridge, millet porridge, vegetable porridge, noodles, or dishes like wonton soup, vegetable soup, and dragon whisker noodles. Moreover, it is essential to drink plenty of water during a fever to promote metabolism and enhance the body's resistance. It is also appropriate to eat some fresh fruits and vegetables to replenish vitamins. Vitamin C can help boost metabolism and aid cellular repair, which is significantly helpful in recovering from colds and fevers. At the same time, it is recommended to maintain a positive mood, and if the body temperature exceeds 38.5℃, it is important to take antipyretic medicine promptly.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu

Pulmonology

1min 13sec

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How many days does it usually take for a fever to subside from a cold?

A cold, if accompanied by a fever, is mostly caused by bacterial or viral infections. Under the guidance of a doctor, active symptomatic treatment can usually reduce the fever within two to three days. It is recommended that during the fever period, one should monitor the body temperature closely. If the temperature exceeds 38.5°C, fever-reducing medication should be taken immediately to achieve the purpose of reducing the fever, to avoid febrile convulsions, especially in infants and young children whose nervous systems are not yet fully developed. If a high fever is not treated promptly, it could likely lead to febrile convulsions and may have a certain impact on the child's health. Therefore, it is advised to take fever-reducing medication in a timely manner. If the body temperature is below 38.5°C, physical cooling methods can be used at this time. Let the baby or the patient drink more water to promote excretion and enhance their resistance. Physical cooling methods should also be used regularly.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu

Pulmonology

1min 2sec

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What are wind-cold common cold and wind-heat common cold?

Wind-cold colds are primarily caused by exposure to wind and cold air, typically presenting symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, or coughing up white phlegm. Wind-heat colds, on the other hand, are caused by heat and typically manifest symptoms like headaches, fever, coughing up yellow phlegm, and sore, swollen throat. It is advisable to differentiate between these two types of colds. Both wind-cold and wind-heat colds require treatment under a doctor's guidance, using appropriate anti-cold medicine. For wind-cold colds, anti-inflammatory medicines can be used. For wind-heat colds, medicines that clear heat, detoxify, and reduce inflammation can be employed to alleviate symptoms. Regular physical exercise, which strengthens the constitution and enhances resistance, is recommended to help alleviate symptoms of a cold and facilitate recovery.