9 Foods to Soothe a Sore Throat

Having a sore throat is like having an itch you can’t scratch. You almost always know it is going to go away, but you can never be sure if it’s going to get worse or how long it’s going to last.

Despite popular medical advice, the best approach to scratching the itch of a sore throat does not come from a pharmacy. Medication can often mask the nutritional insufficiencies causing the illness and end up making cough symptoms worse.

Aside from increasing your water intake and drinking hot liquids to soothe a dry throat, the necessary steps toward recovering from a sore throat involve eating the right food.

Although eating may be the last thing you want to do as it can be difficult or painful to swallow, these 9 foods are proven beneficial to healing and soothing a sore throat and supporting your immune system in the fight against bacteria.

1. Chicken Soup

Sometimes the classics are the best remedies. A hot bowl of chicken soup made from the boiled bones of an organic chicken can be more effective than prescribed antibiotics.

Chicken soup has anti-inflammation components which help relieve congestion and limit the viruses that are prone to sticking to increased mucus membranes.

2. Scrambled Eggs

When your body is fighting an infection it needs all the strength it can get. Eggs are packed with protein and are easy on the throat when scrambled.

Some people like to add milk to fluff up their scrambled eggs, but it is important to avoid dairy and use water instead as the active cultures in milk can accelerate infections.

3. Ginger

Ginger packs a mean punch against infections. The inflammation of a sore throat occurs in response to irritating bacteria. Fresh ginger has both antibacterial properties and is a known anti-inflammatory.

Proceed with caution however, as too much can burn the throat and make the pain worse. It is best to boil raw ginger pieces in hot water for 10 minutes and strain. This brew will also help alleviate congestion and tightness in the chest.

4. Oatmeal

A bowl of hot oatmeal in the morning may just be the thing to get you through the day. Packed with fiber, oatmeal will leave you feeling full longer, keeping you away from high sugar snacks later in the day.

Sugars are a major factor in the progression of infections and should be avoided at all costs. Additionally, oatmeal is soft and won’t further hurt your throat.

5. Bananas

Why not throw a banana into your morning oatmeal for an added boost? One of the few non acidic fruits, a banana’s soft texture is not only gentle on your throat but is rich in B6, potassium, and vitamin C which all support healthy immune function.

6. Lemons

Although a powerful acid, a squeeze of lemon can be just the ticket to curing a sore throat. Adding a splash of fresh lemon to warm water can help break up mucus and fight off infection.

7. Sage

Herbs are always a good choice in the face of infection. Sage is known to have healing properties and contains oxygen handling enzymes, flavonoids, and phenolic acid.

Consider adding it to that chicken soup you made or in a lemon, ginger tea brew. The possibilities are endless!

8. Soft Roasted Carrots

Full of nutrients like vitamin A, C, K , fiber, and potassium, roasted carrots are an easy thing to eat when battling a sore throat. As opposed to boiling which sucks all the essential nutrients out, roasting maintains the vegetables natural components.

9. Purple Cabbage

Cabbage soup is actually one of the healthiest foods to prepare when fighting a cough. Packed with vitamin C, sulfur, vitamin K and other known antioxidants it can also relieve the pain of accompanying head and body aches.