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Suffering from a fever and craving to eat chicken? Well, what’s worse than not knowing the fact whether you can eat chicken or not? Well, the first thing that you must understand when you are sick & feeling uneasy is to take a healthy diet that has a nice balance of all the nutrients!
The immune system of yours is already weak at this time, and that’s why, it’s essential to eat food that is light on the stomach but should be rich in essential nutrients to support your body to recover as soon as possible.
Chicken is generally considered a healthy option, particularly when it comes to illnesses such as a cold or the flu. However, people do have doubts or conflicting opinions about the consumption of chicken during fever. They get confused about whether having it in such a condition is safe or not!
Let’s read further and find out the right answer to avoid any kind of confusion! Also, I have mentioned a few health benefits of eating chicken during fever and busted some common myths surrounding this topic. Don’t forget to skip these important points to gain a clear picture of this topic. Here we go!
Can We Eat Chicken While Having Fever?
The simple answer is that — eating chicken during fever is undoubtedly safe, and yes, you can have chicken without having to worry about anything! You should know that even doctors recommend eating chicken as this is the healthiest food option one can have, and it helps to boost the immune system of your body. Chicken is rich in protein and also contains vital amino acids that are necessary for the recovery of the body.
Important Factors To Remember When Eating Chicken At The Time Of Fever
It is crucial to make sure that the chicken is cooked properly in order to prevent any kind of bacterial infections that might further have a negative impact on your immune system. Chicken that is undercooked might contain unhealthy or destructive bacteria like salmonella or campylobacter, which can result in extreme ailments.
You need to ensure that the chicken you are eating is thoroughly cooked at a temperature of 165°F or more than that to put an end to any bacteria. In addition, the most essential thing to consider is the form of chicken that is being eaten!
Yes, consuming chicken dishes that are loaded with oil, spices, and cream or that are made using heavy & rich ingredients can intervene with the recovery process of your body. You must even avoid eating fried or deep-fried chicken dishes because such chicken dishes get difficult to digest and make your body weak instead of making it stronger.
Chicken dishes such as chilli chicken, butter chicken, chicken masala, chicken shawarma, chicken lollipops, etc., should be avoided at this time. It is much better to find some healthy and lighter options to eat. Chicken dishes are prepared with minimal spices & oil is what you need when you are sick!
The best chicken dishes you can prefer eating when you are down with a fever are — chicken soups, chicken stew, chicken salad, roasted chicken, grilled chicken, chicken thukpa, quinoa chicken, and many more. Out of all these, I personally prefer chicken soup because the hot liquid, full of protein & fibre, helps to heal the body and provides enough energy to make a comeback faster.
You can even dump in your favourite vegetables into the soup, such as onion, celery, carrots, peas, zucchini, spinach, etc. It’s an excellent way to give your body a nutritious punch that calms the situation and makes you feel better.
Check out some of the healthiest soup options for yourself here!
Health Benefits Of Eating Chicken During Fever
Here are a few health benefits of eating chicken when you are down with a fever!
Boosts Your Immune System
Eating chicken prevents you from catching any flu, cold or infection and makes your body strong enough to fight back such illnesses. It contains essential nutrients such as selenium, which helps boost your immunity.
Helps In Relieving Stress
You won’t believe it, but chicken works as a stress buster for many individuals. There are two different types of protein in chicken — tryptophan and vitamin B5! These two help reduce stress in the hormones and make you feel comfortable.
You must include chicken in your regular diet also because then you can gain energy and live a healthy lifestyle. And if you feel energetic, then how can you stop yourself from being calm & happy? Therefore, it’s a go-to mantra to lead a stress-free life.
Provide Relief From Common Cold Or Flue
A bowl of chicken soup is a centuries-old home remedy to treat common cold, sore throat or cough. It provides relief to the body and provides warmth through the cold. It is one of the best go-to meals when you are experiencing a loss of appetite.
Boosts Metabolism
As the chicken is high in protein, it helps in boosting the metabolism of your body. Protein needs extra energy to digest and metabolise faster when compared to carbohydrates or fats. This high metabolic rate might help in weight management as well as supporting an active lifestyle overall.
Controls Blood Pressure
Consuming chicken is a great way to keep the blood pressure in control. It contains potassium, which is known for regulating blood pressure by balancing out the sodium effects. Maintaining a good balance between these minerals is pivotal for cardiovascular health.
Also Read: Does Ice Cream Cause Cold? All You Need to Know
Common Myths Busted About Eating Chicken While Having a Fever
There are a lot of myths related to the consumption of chicken while having a fever. Hundreds of news & articles pop up in the social media feeds where the myths are discussed, and that takes a toll on people’s minds.
But it’s important to clear them out so that people are not confused and have a clear opinion about a related topic. So, today, let’s just debunk some of the common myths together!
Myth Number 1: People Must Consume Only Vegetarian Food At The Time Of Fever
When you are having a fever, it is important that you follow a healthy diet, but who says that you only have to stick to vegetarian food? That’s not true! You can consume non-vegetarian food as well, and chicken is a completely healthy option to have. Yes, chicken provides you with the essential nutrients and protein your body needs and helps speed recovery.
Myth Number 2: Fever Can Be Cured By Just Having Chicken Soups
Chicken soups are one of the healthiest & nutritious food options one can ever have, but having said that, it can cure someone’s fever completely; no, that’s not right! For that, you need to take proper medications, consult your doctor and eat healthy food. However, chicken soups can help relieve the fever symptoms by providing nutrients to your body and keeping you hydrated. It can make your mind & body feel relaxed.
Myth Number 3: Eating Chicken Results In Worsening Your Fever
Well, this statement cannot be true because there is no scientific proof or research that says that having chicken during a fever can worsen the condition. In reality, chicken is considered to be a healthy food option, which helps in boosting your immunity and helps in faster recovery.
Wrapping It Up!
In conclusion, eating chicken while you have a fever is actually beneficial for your body in different ways because chicken is an amazing source of vitamins, protein and minerals. Plus, it is easily digestible, so you don’t have to worry about that at all! In fact, eating chicken at the time of fever provides you with energy and helps you to recover soon.
You just need to take care of a few things, as already mentioned above, such as not over-eating chicken in just one go, cooking the chicken thoroughly along with the correct ingredients, and then, you can completely enjoy the chicken & its excellent health benefits without being stressed out.
FAQ
Can I Eat Chicken During Fever?
It is absolutely safe & fine to eat chicken when you are suffering from fever as it is an excellent source of protein and minerals that your body needs to recover soon. However, it is crucial to consider how the chicken is cooked and whether it’s easy on your digestive system.
Eating Undercooked Chicken Is Harmful During Fever?
Consuming undercooked chicken poses a risk of foodborne illness, which can be more severe when your immune system is compromised. Make sure that the chicken is thoroughly cooked and then eat.