Is it: "Feed a fever and starve a cold" or "feed a cold and starve a fever"?

[ohiosmith]

Why?

[Suich]

1. I think it's the latter, but

I have no idea why! Anybody?

:shrug:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

2. Feed a cold...

but take a fever out back and bludgeon it with a hammer, then run its body through a wood chipper.

I hate fevers...

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. According to this woman

it's "Starve a fever, eat cold feet."

[skygazer]

4. It depends on whether I'm hungry or not n/t

[ohiosmith]

5. HEY! I'm cereal.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. Feed a cold, starve a fever...

But it's not entirely true. When you have a fever, eating will make the fever spike. It can also cause vomiting, depending on what sort of bug you're fighting. But rather than totally avoiding food, I'd go for the "ginger ale and soda crackers" menu if your stomach is upset. IF the stomach is not a problem, just eat lightly...bland foods that your body doesn't need to work hard to digest.

As for the cold, you want to eat; but you should avoid mucous-producing foods like dairy products. Chicken soup or stew and vitamin enriched fruit juices are good...

[KitchenWitch]

7. Feed everything...

Food is comfort!

:)

[Hugin]

8. Silly, it's "Feed a cold to a fever."

Mom is always correct.

[Pacifist Patriot]

9. I thought it was feed a fever to a cold.

My mom was always a bit nuts though. In a good way. :)

[Redbear]

10. I 've had to research this before and it's bogus as to both.

You should never starve yourself when ill. It will only make you sicker longer.

Your body needs energy to fight off whatever is making you ill.

[brentspeak]

11. I actually will try to hold onto a fever before taking a pain reliever

As the fever helps to eradicate a bad cold. If the fever is extremely high, you should treat it right away, of course.

[meldroc]

12. Feed a cold, drown a fever.

In other words, if you have a fever, drink lots of liquids, since you'll probably get dehydrated.