If you’re battling Covid or nursing a sore throat, indulging in comfort foods like chocolate or cheese and crackers might seem like the only solace. However, one expert has now warned that certain treats could potentially exacerbate your symptoms – so it’s vital to maintain discipline even when feeling poorly.
Dr Gareth Nye, a Senior Lecturer at Chester Medical School (@dr.gareth.nye), told The Mirror that anything ‘dry or hard’ such as biscuits and crunchy cereals should be avoided when trying to recover from throat pain. But that’s just the start of it.
In an exclusive chat, he elaborated: “Any food which is dry or hard to swallow – biscuits, crackers are good examples. In addition, fizzy drinks or spicy foods can aggravate the throat membrane making it hurt more. Some people find dairy [including chocolate] can make a sore throat worse as it coats the throat allowing mucus to build up leading to more frequent coughing episodes.
“The coughing ultimately leads to increased damage to the throat and a increased discomfort.” Dr Nye’s advice comes just a month after Brits were alerted about a new ‘XEC Covid variant’, with a sore throat, cough, fever and nausea listed among its most common symptoms by US-based scientists.
While the UKHSA Deputy Director, Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, previously told the publication that it’s ‘normal and expected for viruses to genetically change over time’, scientists have raised concerns about the number of cases.
If you’re hit with Covid or a sore throat this chilly season, Dr Nye advises turning to liquid nourishment such as soups and smoothies to ease your suffering. He continued: “Ideally the easier a food is to eat the better when you have a sore throat. Liquids like soups and smoothies are perfect as they are often packed full of vitamins and minerals your body needs to fight off any infections.
“Often people find cold drinks or ice lollies [or] ice creams can help numb the throat which can alleviate some of the discomfort. Aside from cold desserts or soups, make sure you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables to boost your vitamin and mineral reserves, eating high protein foods like eggs are also very useful.”
Although it may seem obvious, Dr Nye also asserts that a sore throat is your body’s way of saying ‘I’m fighting off an infection’, so it’s crucial to let it do so without interruption. He summarised: “It’s always good to remember the sore throat is because you body is fighting off an infection and you should let it do so without interruption.
“You are always best off managing without medication through rest, plenty of fluids and maintaining a source of nutrients.”