What's True? Feed a Cold or Starve a Fever

This advice probably dates back to the Middle Ages. Back then, they did not know what caused disease but doctors then felt there were two kinds of sickness. If you had no temperature but were experiencing cold symptoms, it was felt you should give the body food to speed healing. If a high temperature was involved, it was felt you shouldn't eat so that the body would cool down faster. Fasting was thought to bring down the fever. This theory carried down through the ages is not supported by modern medicine and most modern doctors. But there is some current research to contradict that view. Here is this article, I will present some points on both side of this question.

Why do modern doctors repute this theory? When you have an infection with or without a fever, the body needs support to fight the invader. It is extremely important to drink lots of water and fluids. It is not a good idea to eat anything heavy but soup, especially chicken broth or soup, helps give you strength through the illness.

Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are also good to drink when sick: Fresh juice contains Vitamin C, potassium and other vitamins that help your immune system to overcome whatever bacteria or virus is attacking your system. Drinking fluids helps replenish moisture lost through the fever, sweating, and vomiting. Denying your body of needed fluids could cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

What Effect Does Fasting and Eating Have On The Immune System?

There was a small study done In Amsterdam by Dutch scientists in 2009. The study was small consisting of just 6 men who were told to fast the night before the lab tests. They were not sick. They were given at one point a liquid meal and then another time just water. 6 hours after the men had ingested the liquid meal, their levels of gamma interferon dramatically increased. Gamma Interferon is one of the markers in the immune response. It is present when the body is fighting a viral infection. So in this part of the study findings, feeding the body did appear to help the men's immune system response.

The next lab work taken, was after the men drank only water. When the blood was taken 6 hours later, the Gamma Interferon fell slightly but Interleukin-4 dramatically increased. This is a marker of the humoral immune response used by the body to attack bacterial infectious agents. So fasting with water did support the 'starve the fever' theory.

This experiment was not the perfect experiment to prove the theory. You must note that the six men were well to begin with. They did not have an immune system being actively attacked by an invader. That one factor could make a huge difference in the conclusion of the study, as it relates to the immune response when under attack and compromised. The test subjects were given either water or a liquid meal. The experiment was only performed after fasting the night before and not after days of fasting while ill and with a fever. The real test should be performed on sick patients. The same test would have to be performed on patients with a viral infection and patients with bacterial infection. It should be conducted over a week at least and under controlled circumstances. When evaluating research, you need to look at these issues. Research can be valid or fraudulent with many degrees in between.

More Studies:

Paul Van Veeuwen, at the Free University Hospital in Amsterdam showed that Glutamine, an amino acid, found in milk, meat, and some nuts, boosts the immune response. This was backed up by a study published in The Lancet that Glutamine supplements help fight off infections. These two studies support the view that feeding the body certain foods can provoke a positive immune response. These studies at least were performed on sick patients.

Other research has been performed on fasting or restricted caloric intake but not when the patient is sick. Fasting has been shown to have an positive effect on immune response. The problem regarding these studies is some were on mice and others on patients who were trying to lose weight. The studies I looked at were not patients with a cold or fever at the time. So you must look at the subject's circumstances when these experiments were done.

There is much on this subject that is contested even in the scientific world. Researchers do not all agree on this subject. Most doctors do agree that drinking fluids, broth, vegetable juices, and fresh fruit juices will help you to get well sooner and feel better while recuperating.

I will add that as an herbalist when I am sick, I drink water and make a huge pot of chicken soup. I include fresh carrots and celery. I add 10 garlic cloves and lots of onion. I also throw in cayenne pepper into the broth. I eat that mixture for a few days, and I am back on my feet quickly. I have done this for years. I start this when I first notice symptoms of a cold. If you are vegetarian, make vegetable broth instead without the chicken.

References:

http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/health_articles/feed_a_cold

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn1777-feed-a-cold-starve-a-fever-may-be-right.html

http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=9076b2c9-0730-4f1a-b6fa-5a462bb0a011&chunkiid=156982

http://www.anti-aging-guide.com/33immunologic.php