Drinking milk when cold or cough can make the symptoms worse?

The myth that says that we shouldn't drink ice when we have a cold has been debunked by the medical world. So, have you ever heard another advice that says drinking milk when you have a cold or cough is also not good? Is that right? Check out the following explanation.

Drinking milk when you have a cold or cough, is it okay to not?

Most cases of colds and coughs are caused by infection with a virus called rhinovirus. This viral infection can cause the body to produce more mucus, so that you runny nose easily and are prone to coughing up phlegm.

Drinking milk during a cold or cough can make the phlegm thicker, making your throat feel more itchy and uncomfortable than before. However, drinking milk will not make your body produce more mucus. This is also corroborated by statements from a study carried out in the 2005 publication Journal of the American College of Nutrition. The research team suggests that drinking milk when you have a cold or cough is not proven to make your condition worse.

However, sometimes the uncomfortable reactions caused by milk can be mistaken for a milk allergy. However, a milk allergy will usually also cause nausea, flatulence, or diarrhea.

Drinking milk when you are sick has many benefits

If you don't have a milk allergy or intolerance, it's actually okay to drink milk whenever you want. Including when you have a cold or cough.

In fact, there are many benefits you can get from drinking milk while you are sick. Milk is a food source high in vitamins, protein, and calories that can restore stamina if you don't have an appetite. Yogurt is enriched with the good lactobacillus bacteria which can strengthen your immune system.

Drinking cold milk or even ice cream during colds and coughs can relieve throat irritation, says James M. Steckelberg, M.D., a consultant doctor at the Mayo Clinic. said that milk served cold can soothe sore throats.

So actually, the benefits of drinking milk when you have a cold or cough still outweigh the risks. If you are still in doubt, consult further with the doctor who treats you.

Apart from milk, what can be consumed when you have a cold or cough?

If you cannot consume milk, you can consume other drinks that can help relieve colds and coughs, namely tea. A glass of warm tea can relieve nasal congestion due to colds and soothe a sore throat due to coughing. You can also make a tea mixture with ginger. However, also make sure that you are consuming enough water so that thickened mucus will thin out faster and your body will recover faster.

Foods that are also recommended for colds and coughs are salmon or tuna which are rich in omega 3, citrus fruits or berries that fight inflammation and are rich in antioxidants, and mushrooms, carrots, and sweet potatoes which are rich in beta-carotene to strengthen the immune system.