Kavita Joshi Kavita Joshi Asked 5 months ago

Are you supposed to starve a fever?

My mother-in-law always tells me 'feed a cold, starve a fever' whenever anyone in the house gets sick. My daughter has a fever right now and I'm not sure if I should encourage her to eat or not. Is this advice actually true, or just an old saying?

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10 answers

Sneha Patil Sneha Patil Joined Jul 2026 4 months ago
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I am feeling a bit weak with a mild fever and my grandmother told me not to eat much. Is it actually helpful to starve a fever, or should I be having light khichdi to keep my energy up? I am a bit scared of making it worse.

Rajesh Gupta Rajesh Gupta Joined Mar 2026 5 months ago

When you have a fever, skipping meals can mess with your blood pressure and energy levels. I always ensure I eat small portions of boiled vegetables and oats, and keep tracking my health indicators. Regular checkups are a must.

Supriya Shinde Supriya Shinde Joined Apr 2026 5 months ago

Haan na, log pata nahi kyun bhooka rehne bolte hain. Actually, weak feel hota hai fir toh. Warm soup aur halka khana khana hi chahiye, ho na?

Kriti Saxena Kriti Saxena Joined Feb 2026 5 months ago

I feel so nauseous when I have a fever that I can't force myself to eat anything. Did anyone else feel extremely weak when they tried to skip meals during a flu? I worry I am making myself sicker.

Anjali Mehta Anjali Mehta Joined Mar 2026 5 months ago

Please don't starve yourself. Just have simple home-cooked food like soup or rice water whenever you feel like eating. Take care and rest well.

Amitav Sen Amitav Sen Joined Feb 2026 5 months ago

The idea of starving a fever is medically outdated. Your metabolic rate actually increases during a fever, requiring more nutrients and hydration, so light meals are highly recommended, though you should consult your doctor for personalized advice.

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Consult a internal medicine specialist

Ishita Roy Ishita Roy Joined Mar 2026 5 months ago

I get so anxious when I have a fever because I read that not eating is bad, but then eating might make the fever go up. I think staying hydrated with coconut water is safe, but please don't starve completely!

Karan Malhotra Karan Malhotra Joined May 2026 5 months ago

Arre haan, ye purani kahawat hai 'starve a fever, feed a cold' but actually ye sahi nahi hai na. Jab fever hota hai toh body ko fight karne ke liye energy chahiye hoti hai. Thoda light khichdi ya daliya khao aur dher saara paani piyo.

Rohit Das Rohit Das Joined Jun 2026 5 months ago

No, do not starve yourself. Your body needs calories and hydration to fight the infection.

Nitin Khanna Nitin Khanna Joined Jul 2026 4 months ago

Don't believe these old internet sayings about starving a fever. Starving will only make you weaker and delay your recovery; just consult a real doctor and follow their dietary advice.

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