Starve a Fever and Feed A Cold? Our Takes

And Diana takes on immune system health for the family

Happy Wednesday! With cold and flu season in full swing, we want to tackle an age-old question: Should you starve a fever and feed a cold? Inside, you’ll find our take, plus five simple tactics to help you feel better if you’re under the weather. Plus, Dr. Weil’s go-to Immunity Soup recipe.

Then, in the spirit of resilient immune systems, keep reading to hear how Diana navigates daycare colds and tummy bugs - specifically, how she supports her own immune system and her family’s this time of year.

We want to know: What do you do when you’re under the weather? Share in the comments!

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Building a Strong Immune System

I thought I had a strong immune system… until Elio started daycare. He started going to daycare last January, for just two days a week, when he was six months old (arguably the worst possible time of year to start daycare). That winter, I don’t think we were ever not sick. We’ve also been hit with a slew of stomach bugs that I don’t think I’ll ever emotionally recover from.

Unfortunately, the truth is, kids in daycare and school just get sick a lot. It’s part of the process and, as miserable as it is for everyone involved, it’s an important way for their immune systems to learn and strengthen. And for the adults, at the end of the day, the combo of chronic sleep deprivation and a small human sneezing directly into your mouth is pretty tough to beat. So, this might be less of an advice post and more of a “you’re not alone” post.

There are a few things I swear by, though.

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We all know getting enough sleep is vital, though often unrealistic. I do love the snot sucker for clearing tiny noses, and a good humidifier can make a big difference at night. I also like to take astragalus during the winter months (I didn’t take it while pregnant or breastfeeding), and I’m a big fan of functional mushrooms for boosting immunity. If you’re shopping for a mushroom supplement, try to find ones that use both fruiting bodies and mycelium. Raw garlic can also be beneficial - add a little bit to honey, which helps it go down easier. Basic hygiene also really does help. I wash my hands more frequently and wash his hands as soon as we get home from daycare.

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If you’re in the thick of it, please know it does get better. Those first six months were rough, but we no longer catch every cold, and when we do get a cold, Elio doesn’t seem to get nearly as sick and bounces back so much faster.

Now, if someone could just tell me the secret for escaping stomach bugs…

I would love to know what you do to keep your and your family’s immune systems strong - let me know in the comments over in Nourished Mama!

Starve a Fever and Feed A Cold?

Dr. Weil’s Take:

“Feed a cold, starve a fever” is one of those old sayings that has somehow survived generations. I think it’s useless, because no one can ever remember which way it actually goes. I’ve even heard a version that says if you feed a cold, you’ll then get a fever, you’ll be forced to starve, which makes the whole thing sound ridiculous. Forget it – it’s too confusing.

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When dogs and other animals feel unwell, they naturally eat less. Their bodies instinctively shift energy away from digestion and toward healing. Humans would do well to follow their example.

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Does it really matter whether you eat more or less when you’re sick?