Does the old saying go "starve a cold and feed a fever" or is it the other way round and, more importantly, is there any reasoning behind it?

lanfranco

I always tried to remember this according to the fact that "feed" and "cold" both had four letters, while "starve" and "fever" both contained "V's." But several sites have it the other way around, and no one seems to offer any real logic connected with this saying. But here's one take: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_154b.html Oct 09 05, 7:56 PM

peasypod

Not that I'd ever take note of old wives tales, but I always remember the biddies 'round here putting their 'F's together.... Oct 09 05, 8:02 PM

ing

Well round these parts it's 'starve a fever, feed a cold'. I don't know about anyone else, but the few times I had a good fever going, the last thing I felt like was eating. However, being a bit of a sickie, if I 'starved' colds I'd look more like a thermometer and less like an hour glass! Oct 09 05, 8:42 PM

smeogalla

I was taught to feed a cold and starve a fever, along with ing I never feel like eating when I have a fever. Nothing too wrong with old wives tales Peasy. I remember my gran treating our wounds and cuts etc... with honey.... another old wives tale that has been resurrected and found to be very effective and is now in use in one of Sydneys hospitals. I used it on my kids and still use it onthe grandkids.... it works better than any chemical based ointments. Oct 09 05, 11:11 PM

Arpeggionist

When one has a fever, food only serves as an extra fuel for the disease. What one needs for a cold is rest and more rest. So starving a fever would be smarter. Feed a cold does have some logic to it, if one has no fever but has a cold, one needs to fight the disease with vitamin C, among other things, and should eat plenty and (more importantly) drink plenty. Oct 10 05, 12:42 AM

gmackematix

I'll give a groggy yay to someone but I'm not sure who as the light from the screen is hurting my eyes. Atishoo! Oct 10 05, 5:23 PM

gmackematix

By the way, not wishing to stereotype here, but no mention of chicken soup, Arpy? Oct 11 05, 3:43 PM

Arpeggionist

Chicken soup is one of the best things that one should feed a cold. (I was just making sure not to offend any vegetarians out there.) Oct 12 05, 12:56 AM

daddy1161992

My "x" is a nurse, and this subject did come up. The response was that proper nutrition is important every day, whether sick or not. Large doses of vitamin C can help by changing your bodies "ph". The little bugs that make us sick live in the same conditions we do. That is why changing the "ph", or running a fever helps to get rid of them. Oct 13 05, 7:54 AM