Fever is your body’s natural response to fight infection, whether the infection is caused by virus or bacteria. When your body temperature rises, metabolism speeds up and your body loses more fluid, which increases the risk of dehydration.

In this situation, proper food intake is crucial for maintaining your immunity and help in fasten your recovery. So, what foods and drinks should you consume when you have a fever? Read the explanation below.

Best Foods to Eat When You Have a Fever

A reduced appetite during a fever is normal. When you have a fever, most of your energy is directed to healing, so hunger signals tend to decrease naturally.

Even so, remember that food intake remains a key factor in speeding recovery. These are recommended foods to eat when you have a fever:

Chicken Soup

Chicken soup is widely known as a helpful food for recovery during a fever. This dish can help make the mucus thin, relieve nasal congestion, and supply your body with essential protein and fluids.

Warm broth also helps in soothing the throat and keeps the body comfortable when you are shivering.

Coconut Water

When you have a fever, your body loses significant fluid and electrolytes due to the elevated temperature. This can cause weakness, dizziness, or even dehydration if you do not replace fluids promptly.

Coconut water can be a beneficial natural beverage choice during a fever. Its electrolytes, such as potassium, sodium, and magnesium, help restore fluid balance, support muscle and nerve function, and aid the recovery process.

Easily Digested Fruits

Eating fruit during a fever is highly recommended, especially easily digested options like bananas, oranges, apples, and avocados. Bananas and avocados have a soft texture, are relatively low in fiber, and are rich in potassium, which helps replace lost electrolytes.

Meanwhile, oranges and other citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, which supports your immune system and aids recovery.

Cooked Vegetables

Vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach provide vitamin A, vitamin C, and antioxidants that help your body recover. It is best to consume vegetables cooked rather than raw.

Raw vegetables tend to contain fiber that is harder to digest when your digestive system is weak. Adding them to soup or doing a quick stir-fry can be a safer and easier way to eat vegetables during a fever.

High-Protein Foods

Your body needs protein to form antibodies and repair damaged tissue during the healing process. Choose easy-to-digest protein sources such as boiled eggs, tofu, salmon, or nuts so your body continues to receive nutrients without overburdening digestion.

Drink Ginger or Other Herbal Teas

Ginger is known to help relieve nausea and calm inflammation. If you add slices of ginger to warm tea, it can reduce stomach discomfort and may help bring your fever down naturally.

Other herbal teas can also be good choices because they contain antioxidants and provide fluid intake without excessive caffeine.

There used to be a saying that you should starve a fever. That view is no longer relevant. Experts agree that your body still needs nutritional intake to recover optimally and fight infection.

When you have a fever, you do not need to force large portions. Try smaller, more frequent meals, and choose nutritious foods such as soup, porridge, fruit, or vegetables. Focus on the quality of your intake, not just the quantity.

If you have additional questions about fever, you can consult a doctor or use the health consultation service on the Ai Care app, which you can download from the App Store or Play Store.

Looking for information about nutrition, food and other diet tips? Click here!