Last Updated on February 27, 2020
3. Caffeine intake
Caffeine can also have an adverse effect in the winter when you are dealing with the common cold or the seasonal flu – it may dehydrate your body and thicken the mucus.
That’s why you need to avoid drinking coffee, sports drinks, energy drinks, and even limit the consumption of caffeinated teas such as green or black tea. Very hot or very cold drinks should also be avoided because the extreme temperatures can further irritate an inflamed throat.
What to drink instead of coffee: water and warm decaffeinated teas with a tablespoon of honey are the best options to stay hydrated and accelerate the recovery process.
4. Junk food
Junk food is something you should avoid all year round. It is highly caloric due to all the sugars and unhealthy fats it contains and provides zero nutritional value (low in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals).
You should avoid these types of food in winter because that’s when people tend to eat larger meals and are more vulnerable. According to some studies, we resort to food to improve our overall mood during winter – when we have lower amounts of serotonin levels due to the fewer daylight hours.
Given this increase in the amount ingested, we must be careful and opt for healthy foods.
Oily food such as French fries and fried meat can also increase the risk of an upset stomach. And that’s something you don’t want to deal with when you already have a cold. Not to mention the negative impact that fatty foods have on your heart health.
5. Alcoholic beverages
Drinking too much alcohol during the winter can affect you in two different ways. Alcohol dehydrates your body much faster than any other beverage, and you already know what happens when your body becomes dehydrated while fighting off a viral infection such as the flu: it thickens the mucus in your throat.
On the other hand, it increases your body temperature rather quickly which in turn makes your organism more vulnerable to diseases such as the common cold.
