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Answer:The old saying “Starve a fever, feed a cold” is not recommended practice if you have a cold and fever.

The theory behind this old wives’ tale probably was that if you have a fever, you need to put less fuel in your body to cool off—in other words, starving a fever. On the other hand, if you are chilled, you need to eat to warm up, so you should indeed feed a cold.

In any case, standard medical advice today for fighting off a “bug” or infection in your body is that you need energy, and food is what can provide that the energy. Eat what your appetite allows, and drink plenty of nonalcoholic fluids.

View a Health Corner® TV video in which a Walgreens pharmacist discusses colds and fever.

Learn more about fever in Walgreens.com Health Library.

View Walgreens.com products for treating fever.

View the Walgreens.com Ask a Pharmacist Archives for a list of all commonly asked questions.

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