Can you eat ice cream when sick?
In this article we are going to answer: can you eat ice cream when sick, what is ice cream, what are the benefits and disadvantages of eating ice cream when sick, what are colds and flu, do dairy products increase mucus, and what you should eat when you are sick.
Can you eat ice cream when sick?
Yes, you can eat ice cream when sick but it is not recommended. Cold food like ice cream or cold yogurt might feel good in your throat at first but it can make it worse. Cold food can cause dryness, leaving your throat dry and itchy making you feel worse.
What is ice cream?
Ice cream is defined as a sweetened frozen food made from milk or cream, flavored and sweetened sugar, or an alternative. Ice cream mix is cooled below the freezing point of water and stirred to incorporate all ingredients and add some air. The result is a smooth and semi-solid mix that is solid at temperatures about 2 C or 35 F.
Ice cream can also refer to other types of frozen mixes such as
- Gelato
- Frozen yogurt, based on yogurt or kefir
- Frozen custard, with eggs and added cream and sugar
- Ice milk
- Sorbet, water base and normally are made with fruit
- Sherbet, is the same as a sorbet but with added milk
- Popsicles
What are the benefits of eating ice cream when sick?
Ice cream is a very good source of fat and calories. It is not a very nutritious food because it has added sugar and it can really mess with your glucose levels but when you are sick, it is a good way to add some calories to your diet when you don’t feel like eating anything.
Your body needs calories and nutrients to function and when you don’t eat, your body needs to work harder to get better. 3.5 oz of vanilla ice cream can give you 125 calories and 7 grams of fat.
As said before, ice cream can help you soothe a sore throat. It may act to reduce inflammation; just don’t eat too much because it can make your throat worse.
What are the disadvantages of eating ice cream when sick?
Ice cream contains high amounts of sugar. Sugar is an inflammatory food that can worsen all your symptoms. Try to eat as little ice cream as you can so you don’t get worse.
There is not enough evidence about dairy causing more mucus or phlegm but what is known is that dairy creates more dense saliva. When saliva mixes with dairy, it makes a mixture denser that feels like mucus.
What are colds and flu?
Cold or flu is when you are sick with respiratory infections most likely because of a virus. They have very similar symptoms. Both are considered by the American Lung Association as a respiratory infection caused by a virus but unlike the cold, the flu is seasonal.
Flu usually runs from fall to spring peaking in the winter months and is caused by the virus of influenza. The cold can be caused by a lot of viruses.
| Cold | Flu |
| Runny or stuffy nose | Dry, hacking cough |
| Sore Throat | Moderate fever |
| Sneezing | Sore throat |
| Cough | Shaking chills |
| Headache or body aches | Severe muscle or body aches |
| Mild tiredness | Headache |
| Stuffy or runny nose | |
| Seve fatigue for 2 weeks | |
| Nausea and vomiting, children may have diarrhea |
Does milk or dairy products increase mucus?
There are several studies in the field but there is no clinical evidence that dairy products or milk increase mucus. The theory is that it might be more sensory because milk and saliva create a thick liquid that can coat the mouth and throat. The sensation that this thick liquid left might feel like increased phlegm or mucus.
What should you drink or eat when you are sick?
When you are sick, you should try to stay hydrated and eat as healthy as you can. Try to drink a lot of water and avoid coffee, tea, or alcohol. Some food you can add that will make you feel better is
- Home-made chicken broth or soup with vegetables
- Citrus food filled with vitamin C
- Kale, broccoli, cranberries, red onion, and blueberries
- Ginger tea
- Add garlic and onion to your food
- Avoid junk food
- Lean protein like chicken breast or salmon
Follow this link for more recipes for when you are feeling sick.
Other FAQs about Ice Cream that you may be interested in.
Can you eat Joe’s ice cream when pregnant?
Can you eat Haagen Dazs when pregnant?
Conclusion
This article answered can you eat ice cream when sick, what is ice cream, what are the benefits and disadvantages of eating ice cream when sick, what are cold and flu, do dairy products increase mucus, and what you should eat when you are sick.
Citation
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20170421-should-you-avoid-ice-cream-when-you-have-a-cold
https://www.newkidscenter.org/eating-ice-cream-when-sick.html
