There are some foods that can help with cold symptoms and some that you should stay away from. Lifestyle insight.
Did you know that some foods can make your cough worse and others can help it feel better?
A lot of people say, “feed a cold,” but that doesn’t mean you should eat everything when you’re coughing and sputtering.
Here is a quick list of foods that can make your cough worse and foods that can help you get better faster.
People cough for a reason, even though it can be very annoying and even make it hard to breathe. Coughing can be voluntary or involuntary, but it’s usually your body’s way of getting rid of germs, fluids, irritants, or mucus from your throat and airways.
When an irritating substance, like mucus or dust, hits nerve receptors in your airways, you start coughing. In order to get rid of the substance, your body contracts the muscles in your chest and abdomen and forces air out of your mouth. 1.
Coughs that last a few days or a few weeks are generally referred to as acute or short-term. These are usually caused by the common cold, flu, or other throat infections such as laryngitis.
When kids cough for more than four weeks or adults cough for more than eight weeks, it’s called a chronic cough. Chronic coughs may be caused by asthma, bronchitis, chest infections, smoking, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD). 2.
Coughing is one of the most common symptoms of respiratory illnesses like the cold, flu, bronchitis, or pneumonia. It’s the body’s natural reflex to clear irritants or mucus from the throat or airways. While a cough is unpleasant and disruptive, it serves an important biological function. However, a prolonged cough can be exhausting and interfere with day-to-day life. When we have an annoying cough, we want to do everything we can to find relief as quickly as possible. One question that often comes up is: can we eat mutton while we have a cough? Let’s take a look at the evidence.
What is Mutton?
First, let’s clarify exactly what we mean by “mutton.” Mutton refers to meat that comes from sheep that are older than one year old. The meat from younger lambs is simply called lamb. Mutton has a stronger, gamier flavor compared to lamb due to the older age of the animals. It tends to be tougher and needs to be cooked thoroughly using moist heat methods like braising and stewing. Ground or diced mutton can be used similarly to beef or lamb in recipes like kebabs, curries, or meatballs.
Mutton used to be more widely consumed than it is today, especially in Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East However, lamb became more popular over time given its more delicate and milder taste These days, mutton is not easy to find in many grocery stores. You may need to visit a specialty butcher shop or market to get your hands on it. When cooked properly, mutton can be a tasty, protein-packed addition to the diet.
Nutritional Profile of Mutton
Mutton is an excellent source of many nutrients:
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High-quality protein needed for tissue repair and muscle recovery when sick. A 3 oz serving provides around 25g protein.
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Zinc supports immune health Mutton provides around 5 mg per 3 oz serving
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Vitamin B12 is involved in red blood cell formation and energy metabolism. You’ll get around 2 mcg per 3 oz portion.
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Iron carries oxygen throughout the body. A 3 oz serving contains about 1.5 mg.
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Selenium acts as an antioxidant. Mutton contains around 19 mcg per 3 oz.
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Other vitamins and minerals like niacin, vitamin B6, phosphorus, and choline.
When you have a cough, nutrients like protein, zinc, and iron are important to help fight off infection and give you the energy you need to recover. The rich nutritional profile of mutton can help nourish your body when unwell.
Can Eating Mutton Help or Worsen a Cough?
There is no scientific evidence showing mutton will directly relieve your cough. However, getting enough protein and micronutrients can support the immune system to fight viruses and help you heal faster. Mutton provides high-quality nourishment that your body needs when sick.
Some people may worry eating mutton when coughing could aggravate symptoms because it’s considered a “heaty” food in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. However, there are no studies proving mutton causes inflammation to worsen a cough or cold. This belief about “hot” and “cold” foods impacts what people eat when ill in many cultures but has little scientific basis.
One thing to note is mutton does contain saturated fat and cholesterol. If your cough is associated with another respiratory condition like chronic bronchitis, excess saturated fat could theoretically increase mucus production and phlegm. Lean cuts or trimming visible fat before cooking reduces this concern. Those with heart disease or high cholesterol should also limit saturated fat intake.
Some easy ways to incorporate mutton into your diet when you have a cough:
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Make a mutton soup or broth. Simmer bones, meat, vegetables and herbs for a nourishing, soothing meal.
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Try a curry like Rogan Josh made with tender braised mutton pieces in a rich, aromatic sauce.
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Use ground mutton for kebabs or meatballs served with rice and vegetables.
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Stew mutton with root vegetables like potatoes, carrots and celery for a comforting dish.
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For a quick protein boost, sear lamb chops, slice and add to a salad or bowl of grains.
General Diet Tips for Cough Relief
While mutton can provide key nutrients when you’re coughing, the overall diet matters too. Here are some healthy eating tips that may help soothe a cough:
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Stay hydrated with water, broths, herbal tea, diluted fruit juices and soups. Thinning mucus makes it easier to expel.
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Avoid irritants like smoke, caffeine, and alcohol which can aggravate a cough.
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Eat ginger, garlic, oregano oil and other herbs with antimicrobial properties.
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Get vitamins A, C, D, B6 and zinc from fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. They support immune function.
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Choose lean proteins, fiber and healthy fats from fish, poultry, eggs, vegetables, legumes, avocados and olive oil.
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Opt for soothing ingredients like honey, turmeric, marshmallow root and licorice to ease coughs.
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Be cautious with dairy as milk products can thicken mucus, worsening coughs for some people.
The bottom line – mutton can be part of a healthy, cough-friendly diet. Focus on gentle, nutritious foods and avoid anything that seems to worsen your cough. With rest and proper care, your cough should resolve itself within a week or two. But see your doctor if symptoms persist or worsen. With the right lifestyle and diet choices, you’ll be back to normal before you know it.
Can certain foods trigger coughing?
Some studies show that some foods can make your body make more mucus, which can cause a chesty cough.
Milk and dairy products are commonly associated with increasing mucus production. However, a number of scientific studies have shown that milk doesn’t actually increase mucus production or trigger coughing. 3 Still, if milk and other dairy products make your cough worse, you should stay away from them.
Individuals with GORD may cough when they eat spicy or high-fat foods or when they drink coffee or alcohol. 4.
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS)-containing fruit drinks and soft drinks have been shown to make asthma worse. 5.
Eating a lot of high sugar foods may also contribute to developing or prolonging a cough. A high-sugar diet has been shown to impair immune system function, which could slow down your recovery. 6.
A diet high in meat, salt, and refined carbohydrates has been shown to make more mucus, which can make you more likely to get a chesty cough. 7.
Foods that are high in histamine may also cause coughing along with sore, watery eyes and sneezing.8
High-histamine foods include processed meats, eggplant, dairy, soy sauce, citrus, pineapple, and some dairy products. Food additives and chemicals are thought to contribute to rhinitis, nasal congestion, or post nasal drip. 9.
Coughs can also be caused by allergies such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis). Irritants such as pollen, dust, pet dander, and mould can trigger a dry cough. If you have asthma, allergies can also make your symptoms worse.
Avoid these foods when you have a cough
It’s possible that different foods make you cough in different ways, so write down the foods that do this for you. These are the foods that many people find make their cough worse.
Starchy vegetables such as corn, potatoes, and squash can raise blood sugar levels. Some studies show that having higher blood sugar can raise the risk of congestion-related diseases that can make coughs worse and are eventually linked to the lungs. This may have something to do with eating a lot of starch over time. So, foods that are high in starch might be things you should avoid when you’re cold and to keep you from getting sick in the long term.
Some vegetables, like eggplant and fermented vegetables like sauerkraut, are high in histamine, a chemical that can make people who are sensitive to it cough.
According to some anecdotal evidence, citrus fruits like grapefruit, oranges, and lemons can make your throat sore and make you cough. There isn’t a lot of evidence to support this, but if citrus fruits make you feel this way, you might want to stay away from them.
Will not eating on time give you a cough?
FAQ
Is mutton good for a cold?
Which meat is good for cough?
Is eating mutton heat or cold?
What foods should I avoid when coughing?