NEVER Eat These 5 Foods When Sick
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted January 8, 2019
You feel awful.
You’re coughing… your muscles are sore… and you’ve got sinus pressure that just won’t quit.
You’ve caught the latest bug. And all you want is a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of chicken noodle soup.
But the truth is, some comfort foods won’t give you any comfort at all.
In fact, they can make your cold last longer… and feel WORSE.
Let me show you.
When you are sick, there are five foods you want to avoid:
#1 Refined Sugar: Bacteria love sugar. So when you have a cold, it’s best to starve off invading bacteria by cutting off their sugar supply. And the best way to do that is to completely remove refined sugar from your diet, including sugary sports drinks and throat lozenges.
#2 Canned Soup: Most canned soups are not good for you. Despite your mom’s advice to eat chicken soup (which is good advice), canned soups are high in sugars and artificial flavors. If you’re able, make your own chicken soups or pick up organic bone broths from your local health food store.
#3 Junk Food: Junk foods like processed cookies, chips, and other packaged foods are full of trans fats and sugars that increase inflammation, make you feel bad, and delay your healing.
#4 Dairy Foods: I generally like dairy foods (if you can tolerate them), but they tend to increase phlegm which can be food for bacteria.
#5 Chocolate: Chocolate is great for your heart and brain health, but it’s not so great when you’ve got a cold. Chocolate contains caffeine and other brain-stimulating compounds that can keep you from getting the rest your body needs to recover.
Additionally, you should stay away from alcohol when you’re under the weather. A hot toddy may seem like the perfect thing to calm your cough down and help you get some sleep, but alcohol can dehydrate you and helps that nasty bugs flourish.
Now we know what to avoid, why don’t we add a few things in:
Dr. Scott’s Anti-Flu Program:
- Eat Well: I like to include lots of garlic and onions in my food during flu season. Onions and garlic have long been used for their healing properties, and they are a tasty addition to any meal (especially soups). Many herbs and vitamins can help your immune system; make sure you get enough of them as well.
- Vitamin D: Starting in November, I start taking 3,000-5,000 IUs of Vitamin D every day. Even though I still get outside in winter, my body needs more Vitamin D.
- Berberine, Turmeric, and Olive leaf: These herbs help to give your immune system the boost it needs to help kick the flu out the door.
Probiotic/Polyphenols: There is a ton of research on probiotics and immunity. I take my probiotic in a super-food blend, so I get both gut health and the added antioxidant power of plant foods.
Health and Happiness,
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
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Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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