Can I eat bitter melon when I have a cold or fever?

Jan 25, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Ren Yi

Introduction

Generally, if a patient has a heat-type common cold (wind-heat感冒), they can consume bitter melon appropriately. However, if a patient has a cold-type common cold (wind-cold感冒), it is not recommended to eat bitter melon. If someone has a wind-heat common cold, they can consume bitter melon in moderation. This is because bitter melon contains abundant vitamins, dietary fiber, minerals, and other nutrients, and has effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, which can help alleviate symptoms of wind-heat common cold.

Generally speaking, patients with wind-heat type common cold can consume bitter melon appropriately. However, for patients with wind-cold type common cold, it is not recommended to eat bitter melon. Detailed explanation is as follows:

Patients with wind-heat type common cold may eat bitter melon appropriately. This is because bitter melon contains abundant nutrients such as vitamins, dietary fiber, and minerals. It has effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, which can help alleviate symptoms of wind-heat common cold. Meanwhile, bitter melon can promote metabolism, aid in the elimination of toxins from the body, and thus assist in recovery from fever. In addition, vitamin C in bitter melon helps enhance immune function, which is beneficial for patients with common cold.

For patients with wind-cold type common cold, it is not recommended to eat bitter melon. This is because bitter melon is cold in nature, and excessive consumption by patients with wind-cold common cold may easily cause gastrointestinal discomforts such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating. It may even lead to persistent lowering of body temperature, which is unfavorable for recovery from illness.

Even for common cold patients who are suitable to consume bitter melon, they should control the amount consumed to avoid gastrointestinal irritation and possible indigestion. It should be noted that bitter melon only serves as an auxiliary measure and cannot replace standard medical treatment. If symptoms of common cold or fever are severe or persist for a prolonged period, timely medical consultation at a hospital is necessary, and medication should be taken under the guidance of a physician.

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