7 hours Ago By [email protected] (Lauren Haughey)
When battling Covid or dealing with a sore throat, reaching for comfort foods may seem like a soothing option. But one expert has now warned that some snacks may just make it all worse - so, it's vital to stay disciplined even when you're feeling under the weather. Dr Gareth Nye , a Senior Lecturer at Chester Medical School ( @dr.
gareth.nye ), told The Mirror that anything 'dry or hard' are big aggravators when it comes to a sore throat, but that's not even the half of it. In an exclusive interview, he explained: "Any food which is dry or hard to swallow – biscuits, crackers are good examples.
"In addition, fizzy drinks or spicy foods can aggravate the throat membrane making it hurt more. Some people find dairy [including chocolate] can make a sore throat worse as it coats the throat allowing mucus to build up leading to more frequent coughing episodes. "The coughing ultimately leads to increased damage to the throat and a increased discomfort.
" Dr Nye's advice come just a month after Brits were warned of a new 'XEC Covid variant', with a sore throat, cough, fever and nausea among its most common symptoms, according to US-based scientists . While the UKHSA Deputy Director, Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, previously told the publication that it's 'normal and expected for viruses to genetically change over time', scientists have fears about the number of cases . If you're unfortunate enough to contract Covid or a sore throat this winter, Dr Nye suggests opting for liquid foods like soups and smoothies to alleviate your symptoms.
He elaborated: "Ideally the easier a food is to eat the better when you have a sore throat . Liquids like soups and smoothies are perfect as they are often packed full of vitamins and minerals your body needs to fight off any infections. "Often people find cold drinks or ice lollies [or] ice creams can help numb the throat which can alleviate some of the discomfort.
Aside from cold desserts or soups, make sure you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables to boost your vitamin and mineral reserves, eating high protein foods like eggs are also very useful." Although it may seem obvious, Dr Nye also asserts that a sore throat is your body's way of saying 'I'm fighting off an infection', so it's crucial to let it do so without interruption. He summarised: "It's always good to remember the sore throat is because you body is fighting off an infection and you should let it do so without interruption.
"You are always best off managing without medication through rest, plenty of fluids and maintaining a source of nutrients." What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.
