Sore Throat: Diet And Home Remedies

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Foods to eat and drink with a sore throatMedically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by Danielle Dresden on January 17, 2020

• Foods and drinks to consume
• Foods and drinks to avoid
• Home remedies
• When to see a doctor
• Takeaway

A sore throat can make swallowing painful and difficult. When that happens, it is hard to know what to eat and drink. Even so, the body still needs nutrients to help it heal.

Eating and drinking the right things can also reduce the pain of a sore throat and may even speed the recovery process. Avoiding inappropriate foods can prevent some discomfort.

While there is little scientific evidence to support many herbal or alternative remedies for a sore throat, the following tips may offer relief.

Foods and drinks to consume

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The best things to eat and drink with a sore throat will be nutritious or soft and soothing, or sometimes both. People should be careful that their drinks are not too hot, as a throat that is already inflamed is more susceptible to injury.

Things to eat and drink include:

Frozen treats: Fruit-based sherbet and popsicles, and even plain ice chips can help soothe a throat that feels inflamed.

Pomegranate juice: Studies have shown that the nutrients in pomegranate juice may ward off infection and reduce inflammation. To learn more about the health benefits of pomegranate, click here.

Bananas: As they are a soft and healthful fruit, bananas will be gentle on a sore throat.

Chicken soup: In the past, research has suggested that the vegetables and chicken in chicken soup may have anti-inflammatory properties and help clear the airways, which can reduce sore throat symptoms.

What conditions can a bone broth help manage?

Sage: People have used sage for healing for centuries, and it may be helpful for sore throats. Tip: Pour hot water on a spoonful of dried sage and leave it to infuse.

Turmeric: People use this spice as a tea or in milk-based herbal blends. It may have healing, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Find out more here about turmeric tea.

Honey: Honey is a natural sweetener that may help fight infection and aid wound healing. Children under 12 months of age should not have honey because of the risk of botulism.

Ginger: This spice is available in many forms, including teas and powders. Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that may help sore throats by reducing swelling and pain.

Tip: Make ginger tea by boiling a spoonful of chopped, fresh ginger in half-a-pint of water. Add more ginger for a stronger flavor.

Tea: Warm teas can help a person with a sore throat feel better. One study found that gargling a green tea solution eased a sore throat after surgery. The authors note that green tea is a harmless and natural substance with anti-inflammatory properties. People may find various herbal teas helpful, despite the lack of scientific evidence for their use.

Smoothies and yogurt: Soft, moist foods that people can drink through a straw can help provide the nutrition the body needs for healing while soothing a sore throat.

Well-cooked vegetables: Carrots, cabbage, potatoes, and other vegetables provide essential nutrients for someone with a sore throat. Tip: Cook root vegetables until they are tender and mash with low fat milk and turmeric.

Scrambled eggs: Eggs are a good source of protein, which the body needs for tissue repair. Scrambled eggs are usually soft enough for an inflamed throat to tolerate.

Jello: This is easy to swallow and contains gelatin, which is a good source of protein. Jello can be high in sugar, but sugar-free versions are available. This energy source can be useful if a person is not consuming the calories they need, but those with diabetes should account for the sugar in their daily diet.

There is a selection of pomegranate juice, sage, turmeric, ginger, and herbal tea available for purchase online.

Foods and drinks to avoid

When a sore throat makes it difficult and painful to swallow, there are a number of foods and drinks to avoid.

These include:

Crunchy, hard foods: Foods that are likely to have a lot of sharp edges, such as crackers, dry toast, nuts, or raw vegetables, can make a sore throat more uncomfortable.

Citrus fruits and juices: Many people turn to orange juice when they have a cold as a source of vitamin C. However, citrus juices can make sore throats feel worse due to their acidity. This means they can irritate the already tender surface of the throat. Also, research has not confirmed that taking vitamin C can help cure a cold or sore throat.

Sour, pickled, or brined foods: Foods made with vinegar or salt, such as pickles, can worsen the inflammation of a sore throat.

Tomato juice and sauces: The acidic nature of tomatoes can make them a poor choice for people with sore throats.

Irritating spices: Some spices and spicy foods may help a sore throat, but others, such as chilies, hot sauces, and nutmeg can make the inflammation worse.

Alcohol: Drinks and mouthwashes that contain alcohol may cause a stinging sensation in a sore throat. Alcohol is also dehydrating, which is not helpful for a person with a sore throat.

People should also avoid smoking, including secondhand smoke, when they have a sore throat.

Home remedies

Other remedies that can help ease the symptoms of a sore throat include:

Staying hydrated: When the throat becomes dry, it can hurt more. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend keeping a sore throat moist by drinking plenty of fluid or sucking on lozenges.

Humidity: Dry air can make sore throats feel worse. Using a humidifier to keep the air moist can provide some relief.

Gargling: Rinsing the throat with warm salt water can reduce inflammation. Individuals should add salt to warm water in a ratio that works best for them.

Throat lozenges: Cough drops and even hard candies may provide relief.

Staying cool: People should avoiding very hot foods and drinks to limit further throat irritation.

Over-the-counter pain relief medication: Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen can reduce symptoms. Due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome, children under 18 years of age should not take aspirin.

There is a selection of throat lozenges, ibuprofen, and humidifiers for purchase online.

When to see a doctor

A sore throat can happen for many reasons, ranging from a common cold to mono, herpes, or HIV infections. Symptoms usually go away after a few days.

People should see a doctor if a sore throat lasts 6 days or more, or they have a fever or other symptoms.

Sore throat from a virus

If a sore throat is due to a virus, people can usually treat it with home remedies.

Apart from a sore throat, symptoms often include:

• cough
• runny nose
• raspy voice
• pink eye

Sore throat from an allergy

If an allergen or pollutant, such as smoke, causes a sore throat, the best option is to avoid the trigger, if possible.

Bacterial sore throat

A sore throat that results from a bacterial infection will need medical treatment.

Some cases are due to strep throat, an infection that group A Streptococcus bacteria cause.

Strep throat can lead to other health problems, such as scarlet fever, tonsil and sinus infections, rheumatic fever, or a form of kidney disease called glomerulonephritis.

It can be difficult to tell whether a sore throat poses a further risk or not. However, because of the risk of complications, it is best to get medical help for strep throat as soon as possible.

The following are common symptoms of strep throat.:

• painful, sore throat
• persistent, low-grade fever
• high fever
• difficulty swallowing
• absence of a cough
• swollen lymph nodes
• inflamed tonsils, with white patches or pus
• small red spots on the roof of the mouth

The more symptoms a person has, the more likely it is that they have strep throat and need prompt medical care.

Click here for a guide to recognizing strep throat.

»MORE:Get an online treatment plan for your cold, flu, or sinus infection in as little as 15 minutes with Optum Now Online Care.

Optum Now is operated by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

Takeaway

A sore throat is a common occurrence, and home remedies are often enough to treat the condition. Soft, soothing foods and drinks are the best option.

If symptoms persist or if a person has a fever, they should see a doctor.

Q:

Is lemon and honey a good choice for a sore throat?

A:

Lemons help break up mucus in the back of the throat. Honey is soothing on the raw throat, has anti-inflammatory properties, and helps reduce coughing. A warm tea with honey and lemon is a great choice to help heal a sore throat. Do not give honey to children under 1 year.

Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

 

• Flu / Cold / SARS

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

• Allen. G. M., & Arroll, B. (2014). Prevention and treatment of the common cold: Making sense of the evidence.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3928210/
• Bode, A. M., & Dong, Z. (2011). Chapter 7: The amazing and mighty ginger. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press/Taylor & Francis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92775/
• Bucher, A., & White, N. (2016). Vitamin C in the prevention and treatment of the common cold.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6124957/
• Jafari, H., et al. (2016). The effect of green tea gargle solution on sore throat after coronary artery bypass grafting: A randomized clinical trial.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5018145/
• Mandal, M. D., & Mandal, S. (2011). Honey: Its medicinal property and antibacterial activity. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3609166/
• Pelucchi, C., et al. (2012). Guideline for the management of acute sore throat.http://www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-743X(14)61968-6/fulltext
• Pomegranate. (2017).https://nccih.nih.gov/health/pomegranate/at-a-glance
• Prasad, S., & Aggarwal, B. B. (2011). Chapter 13. Turmeric, the golden spice. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press/Taylor & Francis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92752/
• Rennard, B. O., et al. (2000). Chicken soup inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro [Abstract].https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11035691
• Sage. (2016).https://nccih.nih.gov/health/sage
• Soothing a sore throat. What to do when your throat hurts. (2013).https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2013/03/soothing-sore-throat
• Strep throat: All you need to know. (2018). lhttps://www.cdc.gov/groupastrep/diseases-public/strep-throat.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Ffeatures%2Fstrepthroat%2Findex.htm

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Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by Danielle Dresden on January 17, 2020

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