Category: Common cold

According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a healthy adult woman needs about 11.5 cups and a man needs about 15.5 cups of fluids daily. This baseline should increase when you're ill, so knowing how much water should you drink a day to get rid of a cold is crucial for a faster recovery.

While the centuries-old saying 'feed a cold, starve a fever' is largely outdated, it holds a kernel of truth in the importance of nutrition during illness. Scientific evidence shows that when your body is fighting a virus, it uses extra energy, making proper fuel and hydration essential for a speedy recovery.

According to a 2024 Cochrane review, taking zinc supplements may reduce the duration of an ongoing cold, but the evidence is not conclusive and needs to be balanced against potential side effects. This uncertainty has led many to question the actual benefits of zinc when early illness symptoms appear.

For centuries, people have believed that drinking milk increases mucus production and worsens congestion during a cold. While the creamy texture of milk can create a temporary sensation of thicker phlegm in the mouth, scientific studies have repeatedly shown no link between dairy consumption and increased mucus secretion in the respiratory tract.

An overwhelming majority of people crave comforting and familiar foods when feeling unwell. So, is pasta ok when you have a cold, or is this comfort food a secret saboteur of your recovery?

A 2023 study published in *BMC Public Health* found that regular vitamin C intake significantly decreased the severity of common cold symptoms. This data suggests that it can be beneficial to drink vitamin C when you have colds, though its effects are more nuanced than many believe.

A common belief suggests dairy products worsen cold symptoms by increasing mucus, but scientific evidence on this topic is mixed. So, can butter be part of your diet while sick? The answer depends on your individual sensitivity.

While many believe that chocolate can make a cold worse, a 2019 study published in the *British Journal of Thoracic Society* found a cocoa-based medicine was more effective at suppressing coughs than codeine. The answer to "does chocolate make cold symptoms worse?" is not a simple yes or no, as the type of chocolate and your specific symptoms matter greatly.

According to Mondelēz International, which owns the Halls brand, Halls accounts for over 50% of worldwide cough-drop sales, used not only for cold relief but also as a refreshing candy. This popularity is a testament to the numerous perceived benefits of eating Halls, particularly for soothing respiratory symptoms during illnesses like the common cold.

According to a 2024 Cochrane review, there is low-certainty evidence suggesting that zinc supplementation can modestly reduce the duration of a cold, but it is unlikely to prevent you from getting sick in the first place. This has led many to question, 'Can zinc stop a cold?' and what the actual benefits and risks of using it are.