The Ultimate Guide: What food will reduce fever and support recovery?

October 30, 2025 •

3 min read

Fact: Your body's metabolic rate increases when you have a fever, which means you burn more calories and lose fluids faster. To support this process, understanding what food will reduce fever by providing hydration and nutrients is crucial for a fast recovery.

Quick Summary

Learn which easily digestible and hydrating foods, like broths, fruits, and yogurts, can aid your body during a fever by providing essential nutrients and electrolytes for a smoother recovery.

Key Points

Prioritize Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids like water, broths, and coconut water to prevent dehydration caused by sweating.
Choose Easy-to-Digest Foods: Opt for bland, soft foods like bananas, rice, toast, and oatmeal, which are gentle on a sensitive stomach.
Boost Immunity with Nutrients: Eat fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants, like oranges, berries, and leafy greens, to support your immune system.
Incorporate Immune-Supporting Ingredients: Add garlic and ginger to your meals or teas, as they have natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
Avoid Inflammatory Foods: Steer clear of sugary snacks, greasy/fatty foods, and high-fiber grains, as they can burden your digestive system and weaken your immune response.
Replenish Electrolytes: Consume broths or coconut water to replace electrolytes lost through sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Focus on Protein: Lean protein sources like eggs and stewed chicken help the body rebuild and maintain strength during recovery.

Why Nutrition is Critical During a Fever

A fever indicates your body is fighting an infection, which increases your metabolic rate and energy needs. This heightened activity demands more fluid, calories, and specific nutrients. Increased sweating, potentially coupled with vomiting or diarrhea, raises the risk of dehydration. Adequate nutrition supports your immune system and recovery, while poor nutrition can prolong illness.

Foods and Fluids to Prioritize

Hydrating Liquids

Staying hydrated is paramount during a fever. Fluids help regulate body temperature and replace losses from sweating.

Water: Essential for rehydration.
Broths and Soups: Provide fluids, electrolytes, and are easy to digest. Warmth soothes sore throats.
Coconut Water: A natural source of electrolytes.
Herbal Teas: Hydrating and soothing; ginger may help with nausea.
Fresh Juices and Smoothies: Offer nutrients and calories for those with low appetite.

Nutrient-Dense, Easy-to-Digest Foods

When appetite is low, focus on bland, easily digestible options. Consider the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) which is gentle on the stomach and helps replace potassium. Oatmeal, mashed potatoes, boiled eggs, and lean protein can provide essential nutrients and calories. Plain yogurt with live cultures offers probiotics for gut health.

Immunity-Boosting Ingredients

Ingredients like garlic and ginger have potential anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Vitamin C-rich foods such as oranges, berries, and leafy greens can support immune function.

Foods and Drinks to Avoid

Avoid foods that can hinder recovery. These include sugary foods and drinks, greasy and fatty foods, processed meats, high-fiber grains, caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods.

Dietary Recommendations: Comparison for Fever


Food Type	Recommended For Fever	Reason	Not Recommended For Fever	Reason
Fluids	Water, herbal tea, broths, coconut water, fresh fruit juices	Replenishes lost fluids and electrolytes, aids temperature regulation.	Caffeinated or alcoholic beverages	Increases dehydration, which can worsen symptoms.
Protein	Scrambled eggs, stewed fish/chicken, tofu, lentils	Provides essential amino acids for tissue repair and strength.	Processed meats, heavy cuts of meat	Hard to digest and can cause additional strain on the body.
Carbohydrates	White rice, toast, oatmeal, mashed potatoes	Bland and easy to digest, providing necessary energy.	Whole grains, high-fiber products	Can be hard on the digestive system when unwell.
Fruits & Vegetables	Bananas, berries, oranges, cooked spinach, carrots	Hydrating and rich in immune-supporting vitamins and antioxidants.	Raw, high-fiber vegetables	Difficult to digest, potentially causing bloating and discomfort.
Dairy	Plain yogurt (with live cultures)	Contains probiotics for gut health and immune support.	Cheese, heavy cream	Can increase inflammation and cause stomach irritation.
Sweeteners	Honey (for adults)	Has antibacterial properties and can soothe a sore throat.	Sugary snacks, candy	Suppresses the immune system and provides empty calories.

A Note on Fever in Children

For children with fever, prioritize soft, easily digestible foods and hydration with water, diluted juice, or coconut water. Small, frequent amounts are best due to reduced appetite. Chicken soup, mashed bananas, applesauce, or plain rice are good options. Avoid honey for infants under one year. Always consult a pediatrician for medical advice.

Conclusion

Supporting your body with appropriate dietary choices is key during a fever. Focus on hydration with fluids like water and broths, consume easily digestible, nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, and avoid irritating options like sugary, fatty, and spicy items. Adequate rest and a balanced diet are essential for a swift recovery.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment of any health condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Staying hydrated is crucial during a fever because high body temperature increases fluid loss through sweating. Replenishing fluids helps to regulate your body temperature and prevents dehydration, which can worsen your condition.

Some dairy products, like plain yogurt with live cultures, are beneficial as they provide probiotics that support gut health. However, heavy or fatty dairy products, such as cheese and rich creams, are best avoided as they can increase inflammation and be hard to digest.

Yes, chicken soup is a classic remedy for good reason. It provides fluids and electrolytes, and the warmth can help with congestion. The chicken provides protein, and vegetables in the soup add valuable vitamins and minerals.

Fruits rich in Vitamin C, like oranges, berries, and kiwis, are great for boosting the immune system. Easily digestible, soft fruits like bananas and applesauce are also recommended, especially if your appetite is low.

You should avoid fatty and fried foods, excessively sugary snacks and drinks, spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol. These can irritate your stomach, cause dehydration, or burden your digestive system.

While high-fiber foods are typically healthy, they can be difficult for a weakened digestive system to process during a fever. It's often better to opt for lower-fiber options like white rice and toast until you feel better.

Both ginger and garlic have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can help support your immune system. Ginger is also known to help alleviate nausea associated with fever.