5 Foods NOT to Eat While Sick or Battling a ColdElizabeth Renter Alcohol weakens your immune system and dehydrates you. Both of these can make your colds more miserable and leave you with an even worse morning. Grandmas hot toddy might clear things up for a short time, but take it easy and dont overdo it. If you come down with a cold, steer clear of most alcohol in order to keep your body optimally hydrated and your immune system functioning on high. 2. Dairy Products Dairy products may be on the fence (in small portions), as consuming them may not aggravate some while doing so to others. Dairy products can increase mucus production, and mucus is one thing you dont need more of when you are sick. If ice cream feels good on your throat, opt for a different frozen dessert like frozen fruit bars. These will numb your scratchy throat and deliver some useful vitamin C. If you enjoy juicing and make your own 100% juicesby all means, drink them! But if you reach for your run-of-the-mill orange juice when you get a cold, youd be better off without. Average juices are loaded with extra sugar and that sugar can reduce the ability of white blood cells to fight illness. Any benefits you might get from the vitamin c are nullified by the sugar inside. 4. Fried Foods Stay away from excess fats when you are sick. This goes for processed snacks and fried foods. Foods high in fat produce inflammation and inflammation produces a less active immune system. Surprise, surprise it should be most obvious to steer clear of fast food and processed foods while sick. Fast food and most processed foods are void of nutritional value; that is, they bring hardly anything to the table in terms of boosting the immune system or amplifying your health. Not only are much of these foods made from genetically modified foods, but they also contain a slew of immune-suppressing ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, MSG, artificial colors, FDC Red #40, dimethylpolysiloxane, and much more. And despite some irresponsible hospitals serving up McDonalds to their sick patients, that doesnt mean these foods are any more valuable. So this is how to prevent a cold: avoids those foods that make you sick and consume those foods that boost your immune system. When you are sickstick with a diet of whole, fresh foods and plenty of liquids. Drink tea, eat soup, use spices like turmeric, ginger, and garlic, consume some honey, and nurse yourself back to health naturally. Generally, the worst symptoms of a cold will only last a few days when you have a high functioning immune system. So, treat your whole body with nutrition and not just your runny nose with an over-the-counter drug. Explore More: 