Do you starve a fever?
My mother-in-law always says 'feed a cold, starve a fever'. My kid has a fever right now, and she's not very hungry. Is it true that you should limit food intake during a fever?
5 answers
5 months ago
Most liked
No way, man, that 'starve a fever' thing is total nonsense. When I had a bad fever last month, I felt so weak because I wasn't eating. Once I started having light khichdi and soup, my body actually got the energy to fight off the infection.
5 months ago
Your body burns a lot of calories trying to fight off an infection, so starving yourself is the worst thing you can do. Focus on light, nutrient-rich food like dal water or vegetable broth. Keep your physical activity to a minimum and rest, unless your doctor says a very light walk inside the house is okay.
5 months ago
I completely understand how stressful it is when you have a high fever and absolutely zero appetite, it makes you panic. But please don't force yourself to starve. Even if you can only manage a few spoons of warm soup or coconut water, keep your fluids up so you don't get dehydrated.
Powered by
Consult a internal medicine specialist
yrs exp
5 months ago
Starving a fever is an outdated myth that can lead to dangerous dehydration and weakness. You need fluids and nutrition to recover. However, if your fever is over 102 degrees, or if you have severe vomiting and cannot keep any liquids down, please visit a doctor immediately.
4 months ago
I know how exhausting it is when you are shivering, feeling miserable, and everyone is giving you conflicting advice. Please don't punish your body by starving it. Just eat very small portions of whatever comforting, warm food you can tolerate, and be gentle with yourself.