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Is there any truth to the "feed a cold,starve a fever" idea?
And then what if you have a cold with a fever (flu)? We have all 3 going on in our house right now - is there any evidence around any of this?
Male
asked Dec 06, 2009 at 04:53PM in General Medicine
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2Votesanswered Dec 08, 2009 at 03:03PMI cannot say for sure, as I am not a medical professional. However, Duke "medical experts" have some interesting thoughts about it: http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/health_articles/feed_a_cold
Essentially, what I got from this article is that you should 1)rest, 2)be hygienic, 3)make sure you are getting proper nutrients -- regardless of whether you have the flu or a cold.
I hope that helps! -
0Votes
answered Mar 10, 2010 at 06:16PMThe "olde wives tale" has these conditions that validate the saying:
FEVER: dehydration is a problem with a fever. It is very important to maintain proper fluid balance...therefore, Fluids are temporarily more important than food.
COLD: viral illnesses, with or without a fever, need proteins for the immune system to be functioning properly.
If there is both, treat the fever first
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The content on or accessible through Medpedia.com is for informational purposes only. Medpedia is not a substitute for professional advice or expert medical services from a qualified health professional.
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