FEED A COLD & STARVE A FEVER?

Most of us have heard this old saying which dates back to 1574, appearing in John Withals’s dictionary: “Fasting is a great remedie of feuer.” The idea behind it was that eating “heats” the body, and since fever was already a “hot” condition, food would make it worse. Conversely, a cold (which was thought of as a “cooling” of the body) needed fuel to warm back up.

It’s persisted through centuries of folk medicine, getting passed down generation to generation without much scrutiny.

So is there any truth in it? 

Both colds and fevers are metabolic marathons. Your immune system is burning through energy at an elevated rate, running a body temperature several degrees above baseline. Every degree of fever increases your metabolic rate by about 10–13%.

A fever activates your Immune system and redirects your body’s energy towards healing. This helps your cells respond more rapidly against the infection. 

 At temperatures above 37.5°C, digestion slows downs and appetite also drops. This temporary shutdown shifts energy from digestion toward antibody production and immune function.

Your immune system works better in higher temperatures, and your white blood cells become more active.

At the same time, nourishing food supports recovery. Protein and glucose are essential for T-cell proliferation (A type of white blood cell that’s central to your adaptive immune system and function.)  

It’s not for nothing that Grandma’s chicken soup (made from scratch, mind you) is well known as a comfort for colds. It may not be a cure, but a famous study shows it’s a legitimate therapeutic support for upper respiratory infections: anti-inflammatory, mucolytic, hydrating, nutrient-dense, and comforting.  

So there you have it, there’s some truth in the old folk saying. However, there’s more…

What you should actually do

If you’re not hungry, don’t force-feed yourself.

The real priority is fluid intake. Fever and flu massively increases water loss through sweating, mucus draining and respiration. Dehydration is far more dangerous than missing a meal. Drinking electrolytes (sodium, magnesium, potassium) is a good way to keep hydrated while recovering.

Sometimes your body needs support to heal and we’ve got 7 solutions to help you get well. Match the remedies below with your symptoms: 

• SINUS 30c: sinus congestion & pain, post-nasal drip, blocked ears
• COLD & FLU 30c: classic symptoms of runny nose, body aches, congestion, headaches.
• IMMUNE DEFENCE 6c: a 3-in-one solution with Propolis, Echinacea and Anas barb 200C, an anti-viral agent which boosts immunity against influenza.

• BRONCHIAL RELIEF 30c: wheezing, dry cough, tight chest, bronchitis, croup, asthma.
• THROAT 200c: painful, swollen, inflamed & infected throat.
• ANTI-VIRABAC 200c: natural antibiotic, safe for those allergic to penicillin, high burning fever, infections.
• MUCO DRAINOL 30c: drains thick mucus from chest, nose or ears.

Available in Dis-Chem, Wellness Warehouse, Faithful-To Nature and all good pharmacies and health shops country-wide.

We’ve also got the 4-in-1 Winter Chest Protocol combo available exclusively on our website shop here. You pay just R720 for 4 remedies (excl shipping) The normal retail price per 25g remedy is R219,90 which is almost 20% discount per remedy!

Also exclusive to our online shop is our 2026 Oral Homeopathic Flu Vaccine 1c at just R180 (excl delivery).  Be prepared this winter!  This homeopathic oral flu vaccine is a less invasive alternative to the ‘flu jab’. We use the actual allopathic Flu vaccine (Influvac) and homeopathically dilute it to a 1C homeopathic potency. This means the oral vaccine is very close to the original BUT it is safe, gentle and far less invasive, yet still achieving excellent protection.

And finally, let’s not forget our fur-babies are also susceptible to sniffles and coughs.  Snuffles complex 12 c for cats and Kennel Cough & Cold 30c for dogs offers gentle, homeopathic support to help ease those chesty coughs, soothe irritation, and support recovery — without harsh ingredients 🌿
Available at vet shops, Absolute Pets and other pet shops country-wide.