Feed a cold, starve a fever

Common card · No. 225183

"Feed a cold, starve a fever" is an adage or a wives' tale which attempts to instruct people how to deal with illness. The adage dates to the time of Hippocrates when fever was not well understood. His idea was the fever was the disease, and starving the sick person would starve the disease. The adage states that eating will help cure a cold; not eating will help cure a fever. Scientific medicine does not support this advice, instead recommending rest and hydration. Adequate nutrition is required for the immune system to fight any infection, but no evidence supports any high dose supplements except potentially zinc.

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