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What to eat if you have a viral cold

2025-10-15 18:42:50 healthy

What should I eat if I have a viral cold? Popular advice and scientific guides from across the web

Recently, as the seasons change and viruses become active, viral colds have become a hot topic on social platforms and health topics. Many netizens shared their dietary therapy experiences, and doctors and nutritionists also gave professional advice. This article combines popular discussions on the Internet in the past 10 days to compile a structured guide to help you scientifically deal with viral colds.

1. Diet principles for viral colds

What to eat if you have a viral cold

According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization and domestic tertiary hospitals, the following principles should be followed when eating during a viral cold:

in principleSpecific instructionsPopular food examples
hydrationDrink 1.5-2L of water daily to prevent dehydrationWarm water, coconut water, lemon honey water
Easy to digestReduce gastrointestinal burdenPorridge, steamed eggs, pumpkin puree
Nutrient densePrioritize nutrient-dense foodsSalmon, spinach, kiwi
anti-inflammatory ingredientsHelp relieve symptomsGinger, garlic, blueberries

2. Ranking of hot-searched foods

According to data monitoring on Douyin, Xiaohongshu, Weibo and other platforms, the following foods have the most discussions in the past 10 days:

Rankingfood nameMentionsMain functions
1honey lemonade285,000+Relieve sore throat and supplement VC
2Green onion and white ginger soup192,000+Sweating relieves symptoms
3Sydney Tremella Soup156,000+Moisten the lungs and relieve cough
4chicken noodle soup128,000+Replenish electrolytes and protein
5electrolyte drinks93,000+Prevent dehydration

3. Phased diet suggestions

Professor Yu Kang, director of the Nutrition Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, emphasized in a recent interview that dietary strategies need to be adjusted at different stages of a cold.

stagefeatureRecommended foodTaboo
Early stage (1-2 days)Chill, low feverHot porridge, ginger tea, brown sugar waterRaw and cold food
Acute phase (3-5 days)High fever, sore throatLiquid food, fruit and vegetable juice, ice cream (relieves sore throat)Spicy and exciting
recovery periodFatigue, coughHigh protein foods, dark vegetables, nutsgreasy food

4. Special reminder from nutritionists

1.Vitamin C supplementation requires appropriate amounts: No more than 2000mg per day. Excessive dosage may cause diarrhea.

2.Use folk remedies with caution: The "cola boiled ginger" and "white wine steamed eggs" that are popular on the Internet lack scientific basis.

3.Attention to special groups: Diabetic patients need to control the intake of honey and syrup

4.Be wary of the misunderstanding of "giving things away": Unless allergic reactions are confirmed, eggs, seafood and other high-quality proteins can be eaten normally

5. Top 3 practices shared by netizens

Based on the highly praised answers under the topic "Food Therapy for Colds" on Zhihu:

planMaterialPreparation methodNumber of likes
Three white soupWhite radish, cabbage root, green onionBring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes32,000
Fruit electrolyte waterOranges, lemons, salt, honeyAfter juicing, add warm water to prepare28,000
Ginger juice hits milkFresh ginger juice, whole milkPour milk into ginger juice at 70℃ and solidify19,000

Conclusion:During a viral cold, scientific diet can help relieve symptoms, but if symptoms such as persistent high fever and difficulty breathing occur, you should seek medical treatment in time. This article combines recent popular Internet content and professional medical advice, hoping to provide you with practical reference. Remember to bookmark and forward it to help more people in need!

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