You should choose fruits for the cough to contain vitamins that can help fight bacteria and viruses that cause coughs and nutrients that can relieve inflammation in the throat.
Until now, several studies have tested fruit’s benefits in relieving coughs. However, no researchers have confirmed it properly.
But these rich fruits can help boost the body’s immune system to relieve colds and flu, usually the cause of coughs.
The best fruits to help cure coughs.
Foods are recommended to be consumed when coughing, one of which is fruit. The following are good fruits for the cough:
Orange
Citrus fruits like oranges are a great source of vitamin C and flavonoids, which are beneficial for reducing inflammation and boosting immunity. Although vitamin C intake will not prevent the transmission of colds and coughs, consuming citrus fruits can avert cough symptoms from worsening and help speed recovery.
Lemons
Lemon can also be a fruit of choice to overcome coughs. One of the children’s most effective natural cough remedies is mixing lemon with honey.
To make it, you can add fresh lemon juice to hot water. Mix it with honey or hot tea to relieve the throat and increase endurance.
Consuming a quarter cup of fresh lemon juice meets 30% of the target daily vitamin C consumption, while the juice of a whole lemon can supply about 50% of the daily requirement.
In addition to supporting immunity, vitamin C, which acts as an antioxidant, is needed for DNA repair and serotonin production. Serotonin production can help increase happiness and sleep quality so you can rest more comfortably when you are sick.
Berries
Berries such as strawberries and blueberries are also great sources of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, which can support overall health and immune function.
Besides being rich in vitamin C, which can boost the immune system, berries also contain antioxidants called anthocyanins.
Anthocyanins are substances that give certain fruits their colors, such as the red color of strawberries and the blue color of blueberries.
The anthocyanin content makes the berry good for consumption when sick and coughing because it has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and bacterial effects and strengthens the immune system.
Cherries
Cherries are one of the fruits with high antioxidant content that can help boost the body’s immune system and reduce the risk of upper respiratory tract symptoms. This fruit for coughs also contains natural melatonin, which can help improve the quality of your sleep—one of the best fruit for cough healing.
Banana
Besides having a good taste, bananas are also one of the foods easily digested when your appetite is reduced due to illness. Bananas are considered a fruit suitable for consumption when coughing because their soft texture can facilitate digestion.
In addition, bananas are also rich in important nutrients that support the immune system, including vitamins C and B6, copper, and folate. The carbohydrates in bananas work fast, and the potassium in them can help replenish electrolytes lost in sweat.
Pineapple
The best fruit for cough healing is pineapple. Pineapple contains a lot of bromelains. This enzyme has anti-inflammatory properties and may be mucolytic, meaning it can break down and expel phlegm from the body.
To reduce mucus in the throat and suppress coughing, some people may choose to drink pineapple juice every day. However, the bromelain content in the juice may not be enough to relieve symptoms.
If so, you can try a bromelain supplement, which may be more effective at relieving cough.
We recommend consulting first before trying a new supplement. In addition, make sure that you are not allergic to bromelain and pay attention to the side effects and interactions of the supplement with the drugs you are taking.
Avocado
Avocado is a fruit that is easy to eat when coughing because it is soft and relatively bland. It contains healthy monounsaturated fats, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and calories the body needs when sick.
The content of healthy fats, especially oleic acid, makes avocados can help reduce inflammation and aid immune function.
Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate may support immunity through antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. Antioxidant flavonoids found in pomegranate juice have been shown to fight viruses and reduce the duration of colds by as much as 40%.
Coconut water
When coughing, you are also advised to consume coconut water. Coconut water is rich in minerals that can replace electrolytes lost when the body sweats, diarrhea, or vomiting when you are sick.
Coconut water is ideal for drinking when you are sick. Moreover, it also contains a small amount of natural sugar, which can serve as an energy source that is fast and easy for the body to use.
Fruits that are prohibited when coughing
Citing the Cleveland Clinic, there are various causes of cough. Not only cough-causing foods, such as fried foods or other oily ones, you may also need to avoid some fruits.
Until now, there has been no definite research on the types of fruit prohibited when coughing. However, some fruits that contain histamine may need to be avoided because they can trigger allergy symptoms, such as coughing. That may cause the cough you are experiencing to get worse.
Avocados, bananas, and strawberries are some of the fruits that contain histamine. Although all three are fruits that are good to eat when coughing, you should not consume them excessively.
Some say that fruit that is too sweet can worsen coughs. However, there is no evidence of this yet. Given that honey can be a natural cough medicine.
You may best avoid citric acid fruits because they can increase the risk of stomach acid rising into the throat and causing coughing, especially for those who also have GERD.
You should also avoid consuming dried fruit because they are usually high in sugar.
