A sore throat is the inflammation of the throat, and it is one of those things that make us more appreciative of our own throat when it is not hurting. Sore throat makes us uncomfortable and sometimes even miserable because of the pain. We want it gone as soon as possible and wish it would disappear in the blink of an eye. Sometimes, the sore throat is so painful that we do not even want to eat or drink anything, but in those moments, we need to remember that food used as fuel for the body has the ability to speed up the healing process. In this post, I will give you 6 foods to eat when you have a sore throat, as well as 6 foods to avoid when you have a sore throat. Let’s start with the food that you should not eat when you have a sore throat.
6 Foods To Avoid When You Have A Sore Throat
Not every food is helpful to us especially in some situations, and a sore throat is one of those situations. The foods below are examples of foods to avoid when you have a sore throat.
Raw vegetables
Raw vegetables usually have sharp edges, which can upset a sore throat even further and increase the discomfort from the pain.
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits and juices have lots of vitamin C, which many turn to when they have a sore throat or even the cold. The problem with this is that vitamin C has not been scientifically proven to cure the cold or a sore throat. Also, citrus fruits and juices have a high acidity level, which can make your sore throat feel worse.
Salty biscuits
Similar to raw vegetables, salty biscuits have sharp edges that can upset a sore throat further by worsening the inflammation in the throat. Salty biscuits will also dry the throat further. When you have a sore throat, the last thing you want is a dry throat. Instead, you would want to hydrate more.
Bread
Bread, especially the crusty one, is another food to avoid when you have a sore throat. This is because crusty bread with its sharp edges, can irritate the sore throat further. And if you still want to have some bread while you have a sore throat, you can soften it by dipping it in some soup before you have it.
Chips
Chips are another type or dry and salty food that is best to avoid when you have a sore throat. The salt and dryness will irritate the sore throat further. Plus, chips also have sharp edges, and they may scratch the already inflamed throat, and worsen the sore throat.
Coffee
The caffein in coffee has the ability to dehydrate you as well as making your pain worse. Plus, it will make the healing process longer than it needs to be. So, if you are a coffee drinker it would be best to stay away from coffee altogether, at least until your sore throat is cured.
6 Foods To Eat When You Have A Sore Throat
Now that you know a few foods to avoid when you have a sore throat, let’s talk about six foods that can help with a sore throat.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant with the strength to fight some diseases, infections and help wounds heal. You can make a paste with powdered turmeric and honey, or you can make some turmeric tea and enjoy it lukewarm.
Lemon water
Lemon has vitamin C, but this is not the reason why it is on this list; as stated above, vitamin C has not been scientifically proven to cure sore throats, the cold or the flu. The acidity in lemon helps break up excess mucus that your body may develop as it fights the inflammation. This in turn helps provide relief to you.
Lemon is also very acidic. So, mixing a tablespoon of it in a glass of water will not just help tame the acidity a bit, but I will also help you keep hydrated. Therefore, it is recommended that you drink enough fluids, consequently more glasses of this mixture.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties that help fight against infectious germs and bacteria. It is also acidic. So, you can mix a tablespoon of it in a glass of warm water and gargle several times a day.
Ginger juice
Ginger is rich in anti-inflammatory properties that help in relieving the pain of a sore throat. You can add some ginger juice to warm lemon water to remove mucus from the body, and also receive comfort and relief.
Salt water
Gargling with warm salt water can help sooth a sore throat. That is because the salt in the warm water will pull the mucus out of the swollen and inflamed tissues, and also helps relieve the discomfort of the sore throat. For best results, it is recommended to gargle with salt water two to four times a day depending on the severity of your symptoms. Also, in order for the salt not to cause your cells to dry out, drink plenty of water.
Honey
Honey is very therapeutic. It contains antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-fungal properties just to name a few. Honey can bring relief to a sore throat. Simply add two tablespoons of honey in a warm glass of water, and drink as needed.
When To See A Doctor
Sore throats usually last a few days maximum. However, if your symptoms last longer or worsen, please, do seek medical assistance right away, as you may be suffering from a more serious condition.
The above list is obviously not all foods to avoid or eat when you have a sore throat. There are indeed more. But as you can see, there are natural ways to fight a sore throat and from the comfort of your home. And if you have tried any of the above-mentioned foods to treat a sore throat, please, let me know in the comments below as well as which one is your favorite. I would love to hear from you how you treat a sore throat.