Action point

We've all heard the saying "feed a cold and starve a fever", but is there any truth in it?

Researchers looked at the origin of the saying, then at the effect of eating and starving when you have a cold or the flu with a fever, and came up with ... not much either way.

Essentially they found that whether you eat or not has very little effect on the duration and severity of either colds or flu/fever. In fact, many don't want to eat at all when they feel ill, while others find comfort in tucking in.

So, what’s the best advice? Eat healthily when you feel like it to give your immune system the best chance of a quick recovery.

For the latest on flu jabs and cold remedies, visit the Cold & Flu Centre.