Common cold is a condition of viral infection in the upper respiratory tract. It can occur anytime throughout the year but more often occurs in winter months. People with low immunity or children get affected with common cold more frequently. Symptoms of common cold include fatigue, sneezing, sore throat, running nose, headache, cough, loss of appetite, muscle ache and mild fever with chills.

Causes

Low immune power and aggravation of Kapha dosha are the major reasons behind the occurrence of Common cold. Common cold occurs when the digestive fire (Agni) is not much capable of burning waste material (toxins) in the body and results in formation of phlegm. The food items which pacify Kapha dosha are ideal to take in the common cold.

Diet for Common Cold

If you are also suffering from  common cold. You should follow a proper diet chart along with the intake of herbal medicines. Adapting good eating habits will pace up your recovery rate.

Early morning- Warm water

Breakfast- Veg Idli/ Veg Poha/ Veg Vermicelli (Sewian)/ Veg Dalia/ Veg Semolina (Upma)/ Besan pancake/ Brown bread sandwich/ Chapati with Veg or Dal/ 2 egg-whites

Mid-morning- Coconut water/ Herbal tea/ Fruit juice/ Fruit

Lunch- Chapati with Vegetable or Dal + Salad

Evening- Rice flakes snack/ Roasted grams/ Green tea/ Herbal tea

Dinner- Chapati + Dal or Vegetable

Food to consume and avoid in common cold

✔️ FOODS TO CONSUME ❌ FOODS TO AVOID
✔️ Cereals: Quinoa, Buckwheat, Millet, Corn, Amaranth, Rye, Granola and Barley ❌ White rice
✔️ Fruits: Litchi, Papaya, Apricots, Pomegranate, Cranberries and Apples ❌ Dates, Bananas, Strawberry, Raspberry, Pear, Peach, Orange, Melons, Mango, Grapes, Figs, Cherries and Prunes
✔️ Vegetables: Garlic, Ginger, Sweet Potato, Potato, Radish, Cauliflower, Onion, Peas, Mushroom, Lettuce, Green beans, Cilantro, Chard, Carrot, Asparagus, Celery, Cabbage and Broccoli ❌ Okra, Taro roots and Eggplant
✔️ Pulses: All types of Pulses ❌ Nil
✔️ Dairy Products: Cow ghee ❌ Ice cream, Cheese, Sour cream, Buttermilk, Yogurt, Sour cream, Milk and Cottage cheese
✔️ Spices: Nutmeg, Mint, Parsley, Fenugreek, Cumin, Cilantro, Cinnamon, Basil, Asafetida, Turmeric, Mustard, Cloves, Cardamom and Black pepper ❌ Nil
✔️ Drinks: Herbal tea, Green juice, Homemade soups and Coconut water ❌ Caffeinated drinks, Carbonated drinks, Squashes, Sweetened drinks, Alcohol, Whole milk drinks, Packaged and canned drinks
✔️ Flesh foods: Egg-white, Chicken (twice a week) ❌ Turkey, Duck, Fishes (Bluefin tuna, Marlin, King Mackerel, Swordfish, Shark, Tilefish), Red meat (Pork, Lamb, Beef), Processed and fried meat
✔️ Seeds and Dry fruits: Sesame seeds, Sunflower seeds, Flaxseeds, Chia seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Cashew, Pistachio, Peanuts, Walnut, Ground nuts, Raisins and Almond ❌ Nil
✔️ Oils: Coconut oil, Almond oil, Sesame oil, Peanut oil, Sunflower oil and Mustard oil ❌ Palm oil
✔️ Other foods: Soya milk, Jaggery and Honey

 

These food items are good to eat during the common cold as they pacify Kapha dosha and relieve common cold.

❌ Refined sugar, Artificial sweeteners, Pickles, Junk food, Fried food, Bakery and Processed food

 

Above mentioned food items should be avoided as they can induce the Kapha dosha and make the common cold worse. 

Doctor Tips

  1. Avoid skipping meals especially breakfast
  2. Don’t do over-eating
  3. Consume 8-10 glasses of lukewarm water
  4. Avoid packaged foods as much as you can
  5. Go for a walk for at least 45 minutes

Find a Diet Consultation Online: Get personalized diet chart for common cold

At Life Aveda, we provide personalized diet consultation. In this, a doctor discusses the medical history of patients, do the root analysis on causes. After the deep analysis, doctor suggest a diet chart for common cold as per their needs and requirement. To book a Consultation call on us at +91 7743002520 or click on the button to schedule an appointment with our expert doctors.

NOTE- These dietary guidelines may vary from patient to patient according to their medical parameters. These are generalized guidelines that might helpful for Common Cold Patients. 

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