'Starve a Fever' Adage Is Bad Advice, Virologist Warns

As winter rages on, the cold and flu season is in full swing. And with a runny nose and a pounding head, even the most skeptical among us may be tempted to turn to old wives' tales and folk remedies.

However, not only are these often ineffective, but scientists have warned that some can be harmful to our health. Take the old adage "feed a cold, starve a fever." Yes, we should feed our bodies when we have a cold, but energy and nutrients are just as important when we have a fever.

A fever, like excess mucus, is just one of our body's many defense mechanisms to get rid of bacteria and viruses. "Many [disease-causing organisms], viruses in particular, don't like high temperatures," Dr. Pedro Piedra, a professor of molecular virology, microbiology and pediatrics at the Baylor College of Medicine, told Newsweek. "The fever affects their ability to replicate."

But how do our bodies react to this rise in temperature? "When you have a fever, there's this increased metabolic [energy] demand," Piedra said.

In other words, we need more energy, not less. In fact, studies have shown that raising your temperature by just 1 degree Celsius increases your body's calorie consumption by 10 percent.

And that's not all. "In addition, one of the ways that your body tries to cool itself down is you actually start breathing a little faster," Piedra said. "So you need more energy, and you're also losing more water. We can more easily get dehydrated because we lose water by evaporation as we breathe."

When your throat is burning, drinking more water is quite easy to remember. But eating enough can be difficult when you are bed-bound because of nausea and malaise. "[In this case], I would suggest eating more bland types of foot," Piedra said. "A nice chicken or lamb soup gives you both the calories and dehydration, so soups are excellent [when you're sick]."

As well as fighting off the infection, fevers can also be a danger signal.

"Too much fever can be very problematic, particularly for children, so you want to keep your fever down," Piedra said. "When you're feeling unwell and you have a high fever, remember to reach out to your physician or nurse and ask for advice so that, if there's something serious, they can either see you early or give you guidance."

Is there a health problem that's worrying you? Do you have a question about colds and flu? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured in Newsweek.