Nourish or Starve?
The age-old saying “starve a fever, feed a cold” is a familiar piece of folk wisdom, though its exact origins remain somewhat obscure. This proverbial advice suggests that during a fever, abstaining from food is beneficial, whereas when suffering from a cold, eating can aid in recovery. It likely emerged from a misinterpretation of traditional beliefs concerning the body’s energy and heat regulation.
Historically, it was theorized that fever signaled an excess of bodily heat, leading to the notion that fasting could help lower body temperature. Conversely, a cold was associated with a lack of warmth, prompting the belief that eating could stimulate heat production and bolster the immune system. However, contemporary medical guidance stresses the importance of maintaining proper nutrition and hydration regardless of whether one is battling a cold or a fever.