Citrus fruits and juices, hard, crunchy food, sour, pickled or brine food, tomato sauce and juices, alcohol and dairy products, fresh, raw vegetables, strong and spicy foods, sodas, coffee, garlic are some of the foods avoided during a sore throat.

A sore throat is the painful, scratchy sensation in your throat. It is quite irritating and due to a sore throat you have trouble speaking. You also have trouble eating as it’s quite painful when you have to swallow it.

A sore throat can be due to various reasons such as bacterial or viral infection, seasonal allergies, strep throat and so on. But the most common cause for a sore throat is the viral common cold.  Sore throat due to a virus resolves on its own in a few days.

Read More: 11 Home Remedies for a Sore Throat During Pregnancy

What are the food and drinks to avoid during a sore throat?

Your tummy is growling, demanding to be fed but your throat is making it painful to swallow whatever you eat.  Now, you can only stay hungry for so long before you give in and eat. Care has to be taken on what you are consuming with your sore throat condition, as what you eat can either help soothe your sore throat or just aggravate it further.

Sore Throat: 13 Must Avoid Food for Sore Throat

Here are few foods and drinks listed below that are best to be avoided during a sore throat:

• Citrus fruits and juices

It is pretty well known that citrus fruits and juices such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, etc is rich in citric acid, which is quite essential to the body but this acidic juice when comes in contact with your sore throat further aggravates the condition.

• Hard, crunchy food

Everyone enjoys the crunchy savouries like crackers, dry toast, pretzels, potato chips, nuts, etc that comes packed in small packets. They are easily available at a cheap price and most of all are very tasty. But consuming these when you have a sore throat is not good as its sharp edges make your throat even more uncomfortable.

• Sour, pickled or brine food

Pickles and other sour food containing vinegar as the major component are to be avoided as the acid in it only worsens the condition.

• Tomato sauce and juices

Tomatoes are already acidic and tomato sauce contains vinegar too. Consumption of this has to be avoided to prevent worsening of your conditioning.

• Alcohol

Alcoholic drinks or your daily mouthwash containing alcohol are to be avoided. Alcohol causes stinging sensation of the throat and also is quite dehydrating to the throat.

• Dairy products

In some people suffering from a sore throat, dairy products may thicken or increase the mucus production. This will cause you to clear your throat quite often further aggravating the condition.

• Tobacco

Whether the tobacco be in the paan or the cigarette is to be avoided during a sore throat.

• Certain spices

Some of the spices help relieve the sore throat while some spices are irritating to the throat such as nutmeg, chillies, hot sauces, etc. it is best to avoid them.

• Fresh, raw vegetables

Vegetables are healthy and it is always advised to be eaten regularly. But eating raw vegetables during a sore throat is not good as its hard edges aggravate your sore throat.

• Strong and spicy foods
• Sodas
• Coffee
• Garlic

What are the food and drinks to be taken during a sore throat?

Just how certain food and drinks aggravates your sore throat, similarly certain food and drinks helps to relieve your condition too. Consumption of these would help in better and early recovery. It is best to eat healthy, soft foods that have a nutritional benefit and aslso soothing drinks. Some of them are listed below:

• Pomegranate juice

It is believed that pomegranate juice helps fight off the infection and also reduces inflammation.

• Bananas

They are soft and healthy and will be thus soft on your sore throat.

• Sage

It is a well known herb for its healing purposes that have been in use for centuries. This can be employed to your benefit for your sore throat.

• Turmeric

This is such a spice that has anti – inflammatory, antiseptic and healing properties that is being used for several health cases.

• Honey

Honey is sweet and soothing and it is believed that it has healing and anti – inflammatory properties.

• Chicken soup

Researchers believe chicken soup has anti – inflammatory properties that can clear the airways ans soothe your sore throat.

• Tea

This caffeinated beverage helps to soothe your sore throat.

• Well – cooked vegetables

Instead of consuming your fresh vegetables raw, cook them till they are tender to be eaten.

• Ginger

This spice just like turmeric has anti – inflammatory properties that can reduce the pain and relieve your sore throat. You can make a warm, fresh ginger tea too.

What are the home remedies to relieve from a sore throat?

• Saltwater gargle

Add salt to warm water in ratios that works best for you and rinse your throat with this saltwater such that you make the gargling sounds. It provides relief to your sore throat.

• Stay hydrated

Avoid alcoholic drinks and drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated.

• Turmeric milk

This age – old recipe of mother’s and grandmother’s of mixing a pinch of turmeric in a cup of warm milk is always soothing.

• Herbal teas such as the ones containing liquorice root or ginger tea.
• Honeysuckle flower

Conclusion

Sore throat is the painful, scratchy irritation of the throat due to infections. Most common cause for a sore throat is the viral common cold which resolves on its own in a few days.

Certain food and drinks are to be avoided as they further aggravate your sore throat condition such as citrus fruit and juices, pickles, spicy food, certain spices, sodas, coffee, tomato sauces and juice, tobacco and alcohol.

Some food and drinks can be taken to provide relief from your sore throat such as sage, turmeric, ginger, honey, bananas, chicken soup, tea and pomegranate juice. You can also try some home remedies to provide relief from sore throat such as saltwater gargle, herbal teas, staying hydrated and others.

References

https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/what-to-eat-when-you-have-a-sore-throat#home-treatments

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315937.php