What should patients with pharyngitis eat to recover faster?

Patients with pharyngitis should follow a diet that is warm, moist, light, and easy to swallow. Suitable foods generally include honey water, pears, wax gourd (winter melon), millet porridge, and white fungus (silver ear fungus). The details are as follows:

1. Honey water: Honey should be mixed with warm water. Warm honey water helps moisturize the throat's mucous membranes, alleviates dryness, itching, and pain, reduces irritation caused by inflammation, and soothes the throat. However, take care not to use water that is too hot, as it may destroy the nutrients in honey.

2. Pears: Pears are rich in water and have a mild, cooling nature. They can be eaten raw or boiled into pear juice. Consuming pears helps hydrate the throat, relieve dryness and pain, and their nutritional content can assist in reducing throat inflammation, making them ideal for daily consumption by pharyngitis patients.

3. Wax gourd (Winter melon): With a soft texture and high water content, winter melon can be prepared as soup or stir-fried. Once cooked, it is light and easy to swallow, helping to rehydrate the body and supply vitamins without irritating the throat. It helps alleviate discomfort caused by pharyngitis and supports recovery.

4. Millet porridge: When well-cooked until soft and mushy, millet porridge is gentle in temperature and easy to digest. It does not cause friction or irritation when swallowed, providing energy while allowing the throat to rest. This helps reduce inflammatory symptoms and is suitable for patients with pharyngitis.

5. White fungus (Silver ear fungus): After soaking, silver ear fungus can be cooked into a soup. It has a soft, glutinous texture and is rich in moisture, effectively soothing throat dryness and the sensation of a foreign body. High in nutrition, it helps strengthen immunity and supports faster recovery for pharyngitis patients.

When consuming these foods, avoid extreme temperatures (too hot or too cold) and refrain from adding spicy seasonings. Additionally, minimize talking to allow the throat adequate rest. If pharyngitis symptoms persist for more than three days or are accompanied by fever or difficulty swallowing, seek medical attention promptly to determine the underlying cause and receive proper treatment.