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What should not be eaten when having a sore throat?

Sep 02, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lu Cheng
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, it is not advisable to consume spicy foods such as chili peppers, ice cream, fried French fries, lemons, Sichuan peppercorns, and similar items when experiencing a sore throat. Additionally, one should avoid self-medicating with enteric-coated aspirin tablets, ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, Niuhuang Jiedu tablets, Huanglian Shangqing tablets, or diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets. It is recommended to drink plenty of warm water daily to keep the throat moist, avoid excessive use of the voice, and maintain a light, easily digestible diet.

Generally, when experiencing a sore throat, it is not advisable to consume foods such as chili peppers, ice cream, fried French fries, lemons, and Sichuan peppercorns. Additionally, self-medicating with drugs such as aspirin enteric-coated tablets, ibuprofen sustained-release capsules, Niuhuang Jiedu tablets, Huanglian Shangqing tablets, and diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets should also be avoided. Detailed explanations are as follows:

I. Foods

1. Chili Peppers

Chili peppers contain capsaicin, a spicy and irritating substance. Consuming them during a sore throat can directly irritate the pharyngeal mucosa, exacerbating mucosal congestion and edema, thereby intensifying pain. It may also cause coughing and a dry throat, which are detrimental to the recovery from pharyngeal inflammation.

2. Ice Cream

Ice cream is extremely cold and can cause cold stimulation to the inflamed pharyngeal mucosa, leading to vasoconstriction of the mucosa, affecting local blood circulation, delaying the resolution of inflammation, and possibly causing pharyngeal spasms, which may intensify the sensation of pain.

3. Fried French Fries

Fried French fries are greasy and have a hard texture that requires forceful chewing, which may cause friction to the pharyngeal mucosa, worsening mucosal damage. The greasy content also increases the burden on the throat, possibly increasing phlegm production, hindering recovery, and potentially irritating the gastrointestinal tract, indirectly affecting the body's ability to resist inflammation.

4. Lemon

Lemons have a very high acidity due to their high citric acid content, which can directly irritate the pharyngeal mucosa. Especially when the mucosa is already inflamed, it can intensify the stinging sensation and may also increase secretions, causing dryness and coughing, which are detrimental to the relief of pharyngeal inflammation.

5. Sichuan Peppercorns

Sichuan peppercorns are a spicy seasoning containing volatile essential oils that can irritate the pharyngeal mucosa, leading to increased congestion and edema, thereby worsening sore throat symptoms. They may also irritate the respiratory tract, inducing coughing and interfering with the normal healing process of the throat.

II. Medications

1. Aspirin Enteric-Coated Tablets

Aspirin enteric-coated tablets are primarily used for antipyretic analgesia and anti-platelet aggregation. Although they have pain-relieving effects, they do not treat pharyngeal inflammation. Moreover, they may irritate the gastric mucosa, causing gastrointestinal discomfort. Taking them blindly without high fever or clear causes of throat pain may mask the underlying condition.

2. Ibuprofen Sustained-Release Capsules

Ibuprofen sustained-release capsules can relieve pain and fever. However, if the sore throat is caused by a viral infection without significant high fever or severe pain, taking this medication only temporarily relieves pain without addressing the underlying cause. Additionally, drug metabolism may increase the burden on the liver and kidneys, and long-term or excessive use poses a risk of gastrointestinal irritation.

3. Niuhuang Jiedu Tablets

Niuhuang Jiedu tablets are cold in nature and primarily used to treat symptoms caused by excessive internal heat. If a sore throat is caused by wind-cold感冒 or the individual has a cold constitution, taking this medication may worsen internal coldness, potentially causing diarrhea, abdominal pain, and delaying the recovery of wind-cold-induced throat discomfort.

4. Huanglian Shangqing Tablets

Huanglian Shangqing tablets consist of cold-natured herbs such as Coptis and Scutellaria, which can clear heat and relieve fire symptoms. However, if the sore throat is not caused by excessive heat toxicity—for example, if it is due to throat dryness or mild inflammation—taking this medication may deplete the body's yang energy, worsening throat dryness and potentially irritating the stomach and spleen, causing indigestion.

5. Diclofenac Sodium Sustained-Release Tablets

Diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Although they can relieve pain, if the sore throat is not accompanied by severe inflammation or intense pain, they cannot address the underlying problem. Additionally, they may cause gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and vomiting, and long-term use may affect liver and kidney function.

In daily life, it is recommended to drink plenty of warm water to keep the throat moist, avoid excessive voice use, and maintain a light and easily digestible diet. If symptoms of sore throat persist or worsen, timely medical consultation is necessary to identify the cause and select appropriate medications under a doctor's guidance, avoiding self-medication.

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