What should pregnant women not eat if they have a cold and cough?
Pregnant women need to pay special attention to their diet during a cold and cough, not only to ensure balanced nutrition, but also to avoid aggravating symptoms or affecting the health of the fetus. The following are the dietary taboos and related suggestions for pregnant women with colds and coughs that have been hotly discussed on the Internet in the past 10 days. The content is based on authoritative medical materials and expert opinions.
1. List of foods that pregnant women should avoid if they have a cold or cough

| food category | specific food | Reasons for taboos | 
|---|---|---|
| cold food | Ice products, raw and cold fruits (such as watermelon, pears) | May aggravate coughing and irritate respiratory tract | 
| spicy food | Chili pepper, Sichuan peppercorns, mustard | Irritating the throat and aggravating inflammation | 
| greasy food | Fried chicken, fat, butter | Increases digestive burden and easily produces phlegm | 
| High sugar foods | Candies, cakes, sugary drinks | Suppresses immune system function | 
| caffeinated drinks | Coffee, strong tea, cola | Affect fetal development and aggravate dehydration | 
2. Recommended foods for pregnant women with colds and coughs
| food type | Reasons for recommendation | Food recommendations | 
|---|---|---|
| warm water | Stay hydrated and dilute phlegm | 1500-2000ml per day, drink frequently in small sips | 
| honey water | Relieve nighttime cough | Take 1 spoonful with warm water before going to bed (applicable to people over 1 year old) | 
| ginger tea | Warm the stomach and dispel cold | Boil fresh ginger slices in water and drink in moderation | 
| Sydney | Moisten the lungs and relieve cough | Eat in stew, avoid eating raw | 
| Light porridge | Easy to digest and replenish energy | Millet porridge, pumpkin porridge, etc. | 
3. Special precautions
1.Drug contraindications: Avoid taking compound cold medicines by yourself, especially those containing pseudoephedrine, codeine and other ingredients, and be sure to follow your doctor’s advice.
2.Allergy risk: Try folk remedies with caution, such as Sichuan clams and stewed pears, as some pregnant women may be allergic to the ingredients.
3.Nutritionally balanced: During a cold, you still need to ensure protein and vitamin intake. You can eat eggs, lean meat, and fresh vegetables in moderation (cook until cooked and soft).
4.Body temperature monitoring: If the fever continues to exceed 38.5℃ or the cough worsens, you need to seek medical treatment in time to avoid complications such as pneumonia.
4. Popular questions and answers from netizens
| FAQ | Professional answers | 
|---|---|
| Can I drink isatis root? | Pregnant women should use with caution as there is no sufficient evidence of safety. | 
| Is pears stewed with rock sugar effective? | May relieve dry cough, but not effective against bacterial infections | 
| Will coughing harm the fetus? | Generally not, but severe coughing may induce uterine contractions | 
| Can I use nebulizer treatment? | A doctor’s evaluation is required. Some saline nebulizers are safer. | 
5. Expert advice
1.Prioritize non-drug therapies: Physical methods such as salt water gargling and steam inhalation can relieve symptoms.
2.Guaranteed rest: Sleep no less than 8 hours a day to avoid overexertion and aggravation of the condition.
3.environmental regulation: Keep the indoor humidity at 50%-60% and ventilate regularly.
4.Symptom record: Record cough frequency and changes in sputum properties, and provide detailed medical history during consultation.
Finally, we remind pregnant women that all diet and medication during cold and cough should be based on the guidance of obstetricians, and do not trust online folk remedies. Through scientific conditioning, most cold symptoms can be relieved within 1 week. If they persist, you need to be alert to other respiratory diseases.
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