When the first signs of flu or a cold appear, we know what we should eat: chicken soup, lots of teas with lemon, ginger, freshly squeezed orange juice is full of vitamin C ... All of this helps in defending against viruses.

What about foods with the opposite effect?

The most well-known fact is that you should not eat sweets during the flu because sugar further irritates the inflamed throat. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg of foods that slow down the immune system.

These are the foods to avoid if you have the flu, a cold, or just a fever:

Spinach
Spinach releases cells called mast cells, releases histamine, and activates inflammatory processes. All of this increases fatigue and slows down healing.

Nuts
Nuts contain a lot of zinc and vitamin E, which strengthen the immune system, but they trigger processes that promote fever. Even more unfavorable for a sick body are fats that the body uses a lot of energy for. Redirect your energy to fighting invaders, and leave weight loss and cleansing diets for when you are healthy.

Broccoli
During illness, it is important to consume easily digestible foods with fewer fibers. Broccoli is extremely healthy, but not when you are sick.

Aged cheese
The older the food, the more histamine it contains, and histamine causes the expansion of blood vessels in the brain, leading to headaches and worsening well-being. Treatment can be prolonged for several days due to cheeses.

Fermented foods
Tyramine and amino acids found in pickled cucumbers, bell peppers ... cause headaches, and such foods are also harder to digest.

Fresh vegetables
You wouldn't believe it, but fresh vegetables further irritate the throat. And if you have a strong inflammation and cough a lot, fresh vegetables can cause additional scratches and even permanent damage.

Citrus fruits
If you eat citrus fruits during a cold or flu, you will get a lot of vitamin C, but at the same time, the acidity level in your mouth and throat will increase, further irritating the mucosa and other inflammations. Therefore, when you get sick, try to get vitamin C in some other way and avoid citrus fruits. If your throat doesn't hurt, citrus fruits are the best remedy.

Dairy products
This also applies when you are healthy: if you feel nausea in your stomach, dairy products only intensify this feeling, which can lead to additional cramps.

Grains
The main issue is with the fibers, which burden the entire digestive tract and take away your energy.