13 Foods To Avoid When You Are Sick

When a simple runny nose and aching throat turn into a full-blown unhealthy extravaganza, one thing is for sure: we don’t want to feel any worse. Everyone knows what to do in such situations: drink plenty of fluids, use ginger and mint tea. Try to eat, even if you don’t feel like eating at all. It can be something liquid and light, for example, broth, warm sweet tea, or fruit drinks. Switch to nutritious food when you feel better. It seems quite simple.

But this is not easy at all. There are foods that are generally good for your health, but for a sick person, they can worsen or prolong unpleasant symptoms.

Which foods Should Sick Person Avoid?

Depending on the disease or health problem, you need to avoid certain food items and drinks. Remember, some of these may seem like your regular go-to foods, but according to dietitians, they are not good options when you are ill.

1.For Cold Or Flu

So if you have a cold or flu, avoid spinach, nuts, broccoli, and alcohol.

Spinach

It is rich in histamine, a compound that causes allergy-like symptoms. Such a reaction of the body can aggravate congestion. It will further increase the feeling of fatigue and other ailments associated with a cold or flu. Consuming strawberries, tomatoes, and citrus fruits during such sickness has a similar effect.

Nuts 

Nuts contain important nutrients that help the body fight infection, such as zinc and vitamin E. But they should be avoided in the early stages of illness, especially if you have a fever or a stomach ache.

Nuts are high in fat, which will require your body to work harder to digest them. This can cause intestinal upset and prevent the body from fighting the underlying problem.

Broccoli

Though broccoli is very healthy and contains immune-boosting nutrients such as vitamins A and C, it is also high in fiber, which is difficult for the body to digest during illness. Thus, avoid eating it in an early stage of illness.

Alcohol

It is best to lay off the booze when you have the flu or cold. The reason is that alcohol causes dehydration in the body, slowing down the recovery process. So you need to avoid alcohol during this time, but if you are addicted to it, your health is at great risk. The medication of cold and alcohol makes a lethal combination, leading to the development of other serious health problems. 

Therefore, getting rid of alcohol is the first thing you should do. According to research, addiction to alcohol is more prominent in veterans than in the general public. They need special care and treatment for recovery. Thus, if you are also one of them, get help from special rehabs for veterans, which will ease the journey to sobriety. 

2.For Headaches

When you have headaches, avoid aged cheeses and fermented foods.

Cheeses

Aged cheese such as Swiss, Brie, Parmesan, or Cheddar is among the top of the list of health offenders. Cheese can cause blood vessels in the brain to dilate, causing (or worsening) headaches. The more the product is aged, the more histamine the body produces worsening headaches.

Fermented Foods 

Such foods contain tyramine, an amino acid found in sauerkraut and kimchi that can also cause headaches. Some people find it difficult to metabolize tyramine, which makes them more prone to this painful response. Eating fermented foods can trigger a chain reaction leading to spasm of blood vessels in the brain and a throbbing headache.

3.For Cough Or Sore Throat

If you have a cough or sore throat, avoid raw vegetables and citrus fruits.

Raw Vegetables 

Such vegetables usually have a rough and tough texture that can irritate the throat if swallowed. It is better to return them to the diet when the state of health returns to normal.

Citrus Fruits 

Using citrus fruits during illness is highly controversial. On the one hand, they can recharge your body with vitamin C and potassium, provide energy and restore water balance. On the other hand, oranges and grapefruits have high levels of acidity that irritate the throat. Thus, you may be better off temporarily switching to other sources of vitamin C.

4.For Body And Joint Pain

For pain in the body and joints, avoid processed meat and fast food.

Processed Meat

Processed red meat can worsen the inflammation due to its high content of homocysteine. Due to which it’s not healthy for people with joint or body pain. In such a situation, it is better to eat a plant-based diet.

Fast Food

Fast food such as pizza, burgers, and fries contain a high amount of salt in them, which is not a good choice for people with joint pain. Thus people with arthritis should avoid salty foods, especially fast food.

5.For Nausea, Diarrhea, Or Abdominal Pain

If you have nausea, diarrhea, or abdominal pain, avoid dairy products, bran, and beans

Dairy Products 

These products contain lactose, which is broken down in the stomach by a special enzyme called “lactase.” In conditions of gastroenteritis with diarrhea, the inflammatory process temporarily depletes lactase reserves in the intestinal mucosa. The body becomes unable to metabolize lactose, and as a result, dairy consumption can worsen diarrhea, bloating, and pain.

Bran

It is rich in insoluble fiber, which forces processed foods to pass through the intestines faster. If you have been reigning on a faience throne for someday, such an effect will be completely unnecessary for you. The same goes for muesli, brown rice, and whole-wheat pasta.

Beans 

These contain a substance called alpha-galactosidase that can cause or worsen digestive problems. This is due to the fact that a weakened body is not able to synthesize enough of the necessary enzyme to digest them completely.

Take Away

All people are different and react differently to the use of certain products. If Parmesan consoles your heart in case of migraines, and the vessels do not mind at all, then you are in luck. Eat what suits your body and health. Thus, it is important to remember the limitations that ill-health imposes on you and to monitor your individual reaction to a particular product.