Starve a Fever, Feed a Cold?

If you have trouble remembering whether the old adage was to starve a fever and feed a cold or maybe it was to feed a fever and starve a cold, well, forget it. The old adage (starve a fever, feed a cold) was wrong, at least with regard to carbohydrates.

When you eat sugary or starchy foods, your body has to burn glucose. Metabolizing glucose creates carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide has to be exhaled, and the more you eat, the deeper you breathe.

The deeper your breathe, the more your lungs suck colds and flu viruses down into the throat and lungs to spread the infection.

There's another reason not to hit the refrigerator when you are just starting to notice the symptoms of a cold.

Your body can use vitamin C to slow down infection, but vitamin C operates best in an alkaline environment. Eating lots of sugar slightly acidifies both the bloodstream and nasal secretions and makes it less likely that vitamin C will work for you.

So when you first notice colds or flu symptoms, don't feed your virus. Give your body a chance to focus on fighting the infection and save that midnight snack for when you're feeling better.