What can you eat when you have a cold?

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on May 13, 2025
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After catching a cold, it is necessary to eat more fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins and dietary fiber. The diet should be light, soft, and easy to digest. Eat more apples, bananas, and kiwis, and consume more carrots and tomatoes in terms of vegetables. Main food items should primarily include grain-based dishes, and meat consumption should be limited. In terms of medication, mainly choose antiviral drugs and fever and pain relieving drugs. If there is a runny nose, sneezing, or tearing, you can choose to take chlorpheniramine maleate tablets to suppress gland secretion and alleviate symptoms, but it may cause adverse reactions such as drowsiness and fatigue. Note: Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Types and Symptoms of the Common Cold

The types and symptoms of colds can generally be divided into influenza and the common cold based on their causes, and there are certain differences in their symptoms. Influenza typically occurs during epidemic periods and shows classic symptoms such as sore limbs, fatigue, headache, nausea, and drowsiness. In contrast, the common cold typically features symptoms like clear nasal discharge, watery eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, dry mouth, and sore throat, but lacks the sore limbs symptom seen in influenza.

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Written by Wei Peng
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
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Can I drink milk tea when I have a cold?

It is advised not to drink milk tea after catching a cold. Milk tea actually contains only a small amount of milk; it is mostly made up of various additives, colorants, and other concoctions. Consuming large amounts of these additives, colorants, and other chemical substances can be harmful to the human body. Especially during a cold, when gastrointestinal function is weak and the throat mucosa is congested, drinking milk tea can potentially worsen the swelling of the throat mucosa, causing more pronounced throat symptoms, leading to reduced gastrointestinal function and triggering acute gastric diseases. Therefore, it is recommended not to drink milk tea during a cold, and to generally reduce the intake of milk tea.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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Can I eat mutton if I have a cold and cough?

It is best not to eat lamb during a cold with coughing, as lamb is a kind of warming and tonifying food. Eating lamb can facilitate the production of phlegm by promoting internal heat, which may worsen the cough. Therefore, during a cold with coughing, it is advisable to avoid lamb and eat a light diet, avoiding spicy, greasy, raw, or irritating foods. However, it is important to note that during the recovery phase from a cold with coughing, it is appropriate to consume some lamb to replenish proteins and calcium, enhance resistance, and facilitate quicker recovery from the illness, so everyone is advised to pay attention to this. Additionally, it is also important to consume it in moderation, not in large quantities at once, as the digestive function is also reduced during a cold with coughing. Eating too much lamb at this time can lead to indigestion and increase the burden on the intestines. At the same time, it is recommended to maintain a light diet, consume more fresh fruits and vegetables to supplement vitamins, and improve resistance during a cold with coughing.

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Written by Feng Ying Shuai
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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How to deal with a sore throat from a cold due to excessive internal heat?

Experiencing a cold due to excessive internal heat sometimes leads to symptoms like sore throat and dry throat. If the symptoms are mild, one can manage them through dietary adjustments or by drinking mulberry leaf and chrysanthemum tea, which may alleviate the clinical symptoms. One can also use Isatis root, as it can treat sore throats and relieve some of its symptoms. However, if a cold from excessive heat causes severe sore throat, along with other systemic symptoms like fever and headache, it is crucial to take medicine and consult a doctor to determine the most suitable medication. Additionally, if the sore throat caused by the cold is accompanied by other discomforts, such as severe throat pain and elevated blood markers, it is appropriate to use antibiotics in combination with other treatments. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor and avoid self-medicating.)

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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Green nasal discharge is what kind of cold?

Nasal discharge that appears blue-green in color is primarily caused by viral infections such as the common cold, with symptoms including obvious nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, and fever. The common causative viruses include influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, and rhinovirus. We can determine the specific causative virus by testing for influenza antibodies in the blood. Based on the patient's test results, antiviral medications, as well as medicines that clear the nasal passages, are used to improve symptoms. In daily life, it is important to maintain hygiene, wash hands frequently, ensure good ventilation, wear masks, and avoid crowded places to prevent infection.