Is it bad to eat ice cream with cold or flu?

Popular belief or medical recommendation? Find out if the practice can really be harmful to your health

Just like walking barefoot, eating cold foods or drinks causes controversy when it comes to health. Some say it’s not harmful, while our grandmothers guarantee it’s a very bad idea. But, after all, is ice cream bad for you or not?

” Cold does not cause colds or flu. Viruses and bacteria cause disease“, recalls Carla Falsete, pediatric otolaryngologist at ABORL-CCF. “However, the cold makes our body more susceptible to infections and our respiratory mucosa becomes more fragile”, reflects the doctor.

Carla reiterates it Our mucous membrane loves warm, humid and clean air. “In the cold, you generally stay in more crowded and closed places, with more polluted air. Furthermore, it is dry, with more dispersed pollutants, mites and dust”, explains the specialist.

According to her, all these conditions make the nasal mucosa more inflamed. “So if you eat something cold, it increases the work of the body even more “, he says. Meaning what, the gesture, in itself, does not hurt – the problem is all the conditions caused by the dry climate and low temperatures which can be aggravated by the ingestion of cold food.

Eating ice cream worsens respiratory conditions

It means that too a body that is already weakened (for example from a flu or sinusitis) can be harmed by taking cold things, as it will aggravate the respiratory condition. “Especially if the person already has the so-called vasomotor or idiopathic rhinitis, which is not allergic, but one in which the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed with a sudden change in temperature,” says the otolaryngologist.

Therefore, foods such as ice cream, slushies or even cold liquids do not cause the flu or cold, but they can complicate an existing problem. ” In an already compromised condition, it will get even worse, further congesting the nose and increasing mucus production.for example”, concludes Carla.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.