Fever is one of the most common signs of illness, both in old and young people. Quite a lot of people think of fever as a type of sickness, but it’s not. Fever occurs because the body systems are working more than usual to keep the body going. Just like when you overwork your computer processor or overheat your car engine. In that same light, when your body is under siege courtesy of some harmful infection, your system tries to fight those bacteria and that results to fever.
When down with a fever, one of the best things you can do for yourself in order to regain your health is to eat properly. A wise man once said, “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food“. That simply means that what you eat when you have a fever (or any other type of health condition) plays a very vital role in your recovery process.
So, what are the best foods you should eat when you have a fever?
1. Broth
This is a very common meal and an excellent source of hydration to keep you going during a fever. It contains a bunch of savory flavors, calories, vitamins, and minerals. Taking broth when hot makes it even more effective as it helps fight nasal congestion and also calm your stomach so you can keep down food.
Here are some interesting broth recipes that can bring down your fever:
- Oxtail, abbot ale and brown sugar broth with bone marrow toastie
- Tunisian chickpea and lemon broth with poached egg
- Vegetable broth with salsa verde
- Doctor’s orders stracciatella
- Crab, tomato, and fennel broth, etc.
These recipes are surely going to help your health as well as your mood because they sure taste great.
2. Coconut Water
This is another way you can maintain healthy hydration in your body, irrespective of the fever. Aside from being sweet and flavored, coconut water is fully packed with glucose and electrolytes.
Some of the great effects of coconut which are quite helpful when you’re sick are
- It’s a natural source of energy
- A great source of calcium, oxidants, magnesium, and amino acids
- Contains cytokinins which increase the rate of cell division to help fight stress
- Fights against sicknesses like kidney stones, diabetes, cancer, heart diseases, etc.
This is one healthy and delicious drink that can come in handy while running a fever. You can take it very chilled if you like.
3. Spicy Foods
Eating spicy foods is physically painful for those who shun spicy foods. In that case, you may want to stay away from it when you’re sick, although it wouldn’t hurt to try. If you belong to the group of people that love spicy foods, then good for you because eating it while you’re running a fever is a good way to help you get rid of the fever or at least reduce it.
So, what is it about spicy foods that can help you regain your health? It contains a substance known as capsaicin, and that is what gives it burning effects when you come in contact with it. When taken in high concentration, capsaicin can have a desensitizing effect, which can be helpful in managing fever.
4. Honey
Honey is high in antimicrobial compounds which play a vital role in boosting the body immunity. Antimicrobial compounds also have antibacterial effects, and that is very vital in managing a fever.
The ancient Egyptians used honey to dress wounds because of its antibacterial content. It can also be used to stimulate the immune system, which you’ll agree is very necessary for anyone that’s sick. Honey is also helpful to lose face fat.
5. Oatmeals
This is a very good one for fixing the issue of appetite loss which a lot of people suffer when they are down with a fever. Oatmeal is bland, easy to eat, and provides a lot of nutrients for the body. It contains calories which provide the body with more energy; protein which provides energy and promotes a body tissue repair and maintenance.
Another interesting thing about oatmeal is that it contains a type of fiber known as beta-glucan. This fiber helps to relieve inflammation in the gut, fights intestinal cramping, bloating, and diarrhea.
6. Fruits
Just like vegetables, fruits are very rich sources of fibers, nutrients, and minerals; all of which are necessary for your immune system to function effectively. When you’re down, your immune system is down as well and in a bad state for your health. Taking a lot of fruits at this time will go a long way to help you get back to good health.
The good thing about fruits is that most of them contain compounds known as anthocyanins. These compounds are great for your health because
- They have strong anti-inflammatory properties
- Antiviral components of anthocyanins also help to fight sickness in the body
- They also stimulate the immune system.
7. Green Vegetables
The importance of vitamins, minerals, and fibers cannot be overemphasized when it comes to caring for your health, especially when you’re down with a sickness like a fever. You need to get as many nutritious benefits as possible from any means possible.
What are the specific benefits of taking a lot of green vegetables when you’re down with a fever?
- They contain antioxidants which protect your cells from damages and help to fight inflammation
- Their antibacterial properties, also known as antibiotics, which help to destroy or at least slow down the growth and effects of bacteria in the body
- Certain forms of fever cause loss of appetite. This can be taken care of by eating fiber-rich food and lots of vegetables.
8. Chicken Soup
While you’re running a fever, your body is actually fighting an underlying sickness. And to help with this fight, you’re going to need vitamins, minerals, calories, and protein. All these nutrients will help to
- Keep you hydrated
- Boost your immune system
- And make you feel comfier while you recover from the sickness
Eating chicken soup is one great way to get all of these nutrients in large quantities as required by the body. It is also an excellent source of fluids and electrolytes, which are very necessary, especially if you’ve been making trips to the bathroom.
There are different varieties of chicken soup, including
- Southwestern chicken soup
- Classic chicken soup
- Ginger chicken soup with vegetables
- Mexican chicken soup, etc.
You can find more creative ways to eat chicken soups as well as their recipes here.
9. Garlic
Garlic is packed with several health benefits. It has been around since time immemorial, and it has remained valid for nutritional and health purposes. In addition to its other benefits, garlic can be used to bring down fever.
Garlic is known to
- Boost the immune system
- Lower cholesterol levels in the body
- Help with intestinal issues
- Keep cancer at bay
- Relief asthma, etc.
There are quite a good number of garlic recipes out there to help you prepare garlic meals like
- Garlic lemon shrimp
- Chicken and garlic with fresh herbs
- Tomato-garlic lentil bowls
- and Garlic-dill soda bread
To mention but a few. You can also take garlic in its raw state. What you have to do is
- Peel the layers off a clove of garlic or two
- Cut them into pieces tiny enough for you to swallow
- Go ahead and swallow them with water, honey, fresh juice, or herbal tea
Feel free to be as creative as you like with garlic. Do whatever you want, so long as you get to eat some garlic in the process.
10. Hot Tea
Your body temperature is obviously high! And taking hot tea seems like it’s counterproductive, but it’s not. There are a lot of benefits of taking hot herbal tea when you have a fever. Some of them are:
- It acts as a natural decongestant
- It warms and stimulates the body
- Encourages sweating which enhances detoxification
- Boosts your mood and helps you to relax
- Provides extra hydration, etc.
Since there are different types of teas, it is important to be beware of the type you drink when you’re sick because not all of them are healthy. Here are a few good examples:
- Ginger tea
- Green tea
- Echinacea tea
- Thyme tea
- Sage tea
- Tomato tea
- Cocoa tea, etc.
You can decide to combine any of these beverages to your taste while you snuggle up and pamper yourself to good health.
