The Best Foods to Eat if You Have a Fever

Fill Up on Fluid-Rich Foods

The best way to combat a fever is to consume plenty of fluids. Besides drinking water, hot tea or 100 percent fruit juice, you should eat fluid-rich foods like low-sodium vegetable or poultry broth, ice pops made from 100 percent fruit juice and thin soups. The vapour from hot foods like chicken soup can loosen dried mucus in your nasal passages.

Choose Fresh Fruit

Fruits like oranges, strawberries, watermelon, pineapple, kiwi and cantaloupe are rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant that supports the health of your immune system. Bananas can help replace potassium lost to diarrhea, sweating or vomiting. Additionally, citrus fruits contain flavonoid compounds that decrease inflammation and boost immune cell functions. Pick fresh fruit instead of sweetened fruit products such as some brands of applesauce, fruit juice with added sugar or fruit canned in heavy syrup. A high intake of sugar may inhibit your immune system.

Pick Probiotics

Regularly consuming probiotic foods, which contain beneficial live bacteria, could lower fevers in sick children. The children eating probiotics were also less likely become ill. Try eating yogurt that contains live bacteria cultures when you have a fever. Pick low- or non fat yogurt over whole-milk varieties to avoid saturated fat.

Work in Protein Rich Food

Eating protein when you have a fever can help give your immune system the energy it needs to fight off infection. Choose small amounts of soft, bland foods such as scrambled eggs, scrambled silken tofu or poached, unseasoned skinless chicken or turkey. If you can't stomach solid foods, get your protein boost from a high-protein shake, a smoothie made with low- or non fat milk, yogurt or tofu, or milk added to hot tea or coffee.