What To Eat and What To Avoid When Down With Pharyngitis?

Pharyngitis, commonly known as a sore throat, is a condition characterized by inflammation of the pharynx, the part of the throat that lies between the mouth and the esophagus.⁽¹⁾ It can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, allergies, or environmental irritants. Symptoms of pharyngitis can consist of runny nose, cough and sometimes fever.⁽²⁾ There can also develop symptoms such as swelling, redness, sores or white patches within the throat depending on the causative factor.⁽²⁾ While medication can help alleviate the symptoms of pharyngitis, it’s equally important to pay attention to what you eat and avoid certain foods that can further irritate your throat. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what to eat and what to avoid when down with pharyngitis to help you manage the condition more effectively.

There are certain drinks and foods, which help in alleviating the pain from pharyngitis and help in preventing the worsening of the soreness and irritation if the throat.

Some of the foods and drinks that help when you are down with pharyngitis are:

Warm beverages like lemon tea or herbal tea are very soothing to a sore throat and also help in keeping the throat moist, which relieves pain and irritation.

According to a study, herbal tea made of elm inner bark, licorice root, licorice root aqueous dry extract and marshmallow root, which is commonly sold under the brand name of “Throat Coat”, was found to be effective in relieving soreness and pain in the throat for about half an hour.^{(3, 4)}

Another study done in 2016 showed that gargling using green tea can help in decreasing the pain and soreness from pharyngitis because green tea contains anti-inflammatory properties.^{(5, 6)}

Soup is without a doubt one of the most comforting foods to have when you are sick, especially when suffering from pharyngitis, as it is warm and easy to swallow.⁽⁷⁾

Research also shows that soups help in increasing immune system activity and also alleviates upper respiratory tract infections which can occur with a sore throat.

Consuming a teaspoon of honey or mixing a teaspoon of honey in the tea and drinking it also helps in relieving the symptoms of pharyngitis.⁽⁸⁾ Research has shown that honey has many medicinal benefits, including the ability to prevent infections.⁽⁹⁾

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the use of honey to soothe sore throat, more so if there is cough, yields good results.⁽¹⁰⁾ However, avoid giving honey to a child who is under one year of age, as it carries a risk of botulism, which is a fatal condition.⁽¹¹⁾

Consuming smoothies with the help of a blender helps in giving you the required nutrients, as smoothies can be made of any fruits or vegetables and makes it easy to swallow also. The soft and cool texture of the smoothies is very comforting to feel in a sore throat and also provides the much needed nutrition to fight any infection and get better from pharyngitis.

Use low-sugar fruits for smoothies such as berries, which are rich in antioxidants and lot of greens to help boost your immune system.

Cold foods and liquids can be taken when suffering from pharyngitis, as they temporarily numb the throat region and alleviate the pain and soreness.⁽¹³⁾ However, try to avoid anything with excessive sugar, as it hinders with the healing of any infection.

As mentioned before soft food and liquids are the best way to go when having sore throat, as they are easy to swallow and soothing to the sore throat.⁽¹⁴⁾ Mashed potatoes are not only tasty, but a great way to satiate your hunger. Not only are mashed potatoes easy to make, but they also have various nutrients, such as vitamin C and magnesium; especially if you are eating them with the skin on. Sweet potatoes are also rich in antioxidants and can be consumed when suffering from sore throat.

Oatmeal is a good choice for a meal anyways and more so when having sore throat or pharyngitis.⁽¹⁴⁾ Oatmeal is easy to swallow and is also loaded with protein and nutrients, which provide the much needed ammunition to your body. Avoid sugar in your oatmeal and use honey, maple or date syrup or some jaggery if you want some sweetness in your oatmeal.

Bananas are an ideal fruit, as they are easy to chew and swallow and make it an ideal snack for hunger pangs, especially when your throat is inflamed. Bananas also have nutrients like vitamin B, potassium and vitamin C, which keep the body healthy and strong. You can also add banana to your smoothie for a soothing drink. When compared to other fruits, bananas are richer in sugar, so it is better to consume one per day.

Yogurt soothes the soreness of the throat, especially cold yogurt. Other than this, yogurt contains many nutritional benefits; such as carbohydrates, protein and fat. Yogurt is also rich in probiotics, which are the good bacteria that help your body in fighting an infection.⁽¹⁵⁾ Always eat yogurt without any added sugar to it.

Studies done on animals show that virgin coconut oil can help in reducing inflammation and infection.^{(16, 17)} Coconut oil also is lubricant by nature, so it helps in soothing a sore throat. There are also healthy fats present in coconut oil. You can also add some coconut oil to your herbal tea or simply consume a spoon of coconut oil by mouth and allow it to coat your throat for short term relief.

Just as there are some foods and drinks which should be taken in sore throat, similarly there are certain food items that should be avoided when having sore throat.

Acidic foods like citrus, alcohol, tomato can cause more irritation to the throat and should be avoided when suffering from pharyngitis.

Crunchy foods such as crackers, potato chips etc. should be avoided as they can cause lot of friction and irritation to the already sore throat and it can feel like they are stabbing your throat when you swallow and thus worsen the pain and irritation of pharyngitis.

Spicy foods should be avoided in sore throat, as they aggravate the pain and irritation in pharyngitis.

Many a times, pharyngitis or sore throat will resolve on its own if taken care at home. However, if there is worsening of symptoms, such as rash, fever, difficulty in breathing, swollen glands, blood in phlegm/saliva, joint pains, lump in the neck, then it is time to seek immediate medical attention.

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Also Read:

• Throat Pain Due to Bacterial Pharyngitis: Symptoms, Treatment- Antibiotics
• Throat Pain Due To Viral Pharyngitis: Symptoms, Investigations, Treatment, Prognosis
• Is Pharyngitis Contagious & How Long Does it Last?
• What Is Worse Pharyngitis Or Laryngitis?