Cough and cold lands amongst the most frequently occurring illnesses worldwide. On average, adults suffer from 2 to 4 colds a year, proving how easy is it to catch a hold of this disease.
Although cough and cold generally gets resolved on its own, prevention is always better than suffering with blocked noses, runny noses or congestions in the chest. Colds on average last for about 4 weeks but some colds may last longer.
Especially, young children and elderly individuals fall in the category of highly susceptible prospects to catch a severe cough and cold. In today’s article we will be focusing on the fruits that must be avoidable at all costs while having a cough and cold.
Seasons In Nepal With The Most Cough And Cold Occurrence
Nepal is infamous for its warm weather and climatic conditions. Although the climatic conditions are usually sweet and breezy throughout the year, some seasons report higher cases of cough and cold. Let’s get to know about these seasons:
Winter Season
The winter days of November to December operate with low humidity, resulting in the nasal passage becoming dryer as the days go colder. This eventually leads an individual to be highly susceptible to viral infections.
Monsoon Season
The rainy showers of monsoon are a fantastic season to enjoy a cup of tea! These pouring droplets lead to damp and humid surroundings, cultivating a hostile environment for viruses to thrive.
As monsoon is a transitional season between summer and autumn, the temperatures actively fluctuate, weakening the human system. As a result people are highly prone to cough and cold causing viruses.
Fruits To Avoid During Cough And Cold
Catching a cough and cold alone is distressing to the mind and body. Consuming the wrong fruits can worsen these symptoms delaying the time of recovery altogether. It is wise to know the fruits that must be avoided when a cold is in your house:
1. Citrus Fruits
The citrus nature of fruits such as lemon, orange, and tangerine is highly acidic and difficult for our throats. Avoiding citrus food is the best decision one can make to help loosen the symptoms effectively and not cause additional suffering.
When paired with hot water, lemon and honey however help sore through and cough problems immensely.
2. Watermelon
Watermelons are cherished during the summer days, cooling and soothing in the hot weather. It is a great hydrating food that keeps our system clean and functioning. This case, nevertheless weakens during the cold. Weather.
The properties in a watermelon weakens the stomach acid, producing more mucus. Having watermelon, cold or frozen is not advisable.
3. Bananas And Grapes
Bananas are fabulous foods in general, high in nutrition, and perfect for bodybuilding purposes. However, having bananas during the cold may alter cough and cold symptoms even more. How so? Well, bananas produce high mucus, clogging the chest, and ultimately blocking the breathing passage.
Grapes naturally contain a high amount of histamine, a natural chemical in the human body that holds the potential to cause severe allergic reactions. If you want to consume grapes, irrespective, consuming them by boiling or at room temperature is advisable.
4. Guavas
Green guavas have such a high tannin and acidic content, it can be irritating to the throat and aggravate coughs, and leave a dry feeling in the throat and the mouth, during a cold.
In the same regard, these types of guavas are said to cause excessive secretion of mucus, which makes nasal inflammation and looseopy symptoms even worse.
When eating them cold or as soon as they have been taken out of the fridge, guavas are likely to worsen throat irritation for those who are sensitive to change in temperature. Moreover, although guava’s fiber does more good to the health, it can have laxative effect to those who are frail due to disease.
Symptoms Of Cough and Cold
We are well aware of the bedridden stories around cough and cold that everyone around us has faced. Symptoms are familiar too yet diving into each of these symptoms individually to cure them is something we all ignore. Common symptoms of cough and cold:
- A blocked or runny nose
- Sore throat
- Frequent sneezing episodes
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Cough
- Mild to high fever
- Aches in the body
- Loss of taste and smell
Likewise, certain medical conditions can also lead to acute and subacute cough. A list is plated here for your convenience:
- Cold
- Flu
- Asthma
- Pneumonia
- Sinusitis
- Bronchitis or bronchiolitis
- Allergies
- Acute second or third-hand smoke exposure
- Long conditions such as CPOD
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Postnasal drip
- Conditions associated with cardiac health
Home Remedies For Cough And Cold
In case of cough and cold it is possible to try some home remedies which are effective enough. This is easy to accomplish and effective, by simply drinking warm fluids such as herbal teas, soups, or have honey in warm water.
Drinking ginger tea can also help because ginger has special properties which can effectively control irritation in throat and can also help to stop coughing. Drinking a cup of warm water with honey can help to suppress coughing at night especially when you take one spoonful of honey.
If one cannot clear their nasal passages naturally, steam inhalation with some eucalyptus or peppermint oil should do the trick. Another outstanding home remedy that everyone should try the next time they have a sore throat is gargling with salt water.
Moreover, keeping warm, and also eating oranges and lemons, which are rich in vitamin C, helps the immune system to help to combat the illness.
