Introduction
The adage comes from an entry in a dictionary written in 1574 by a man named John Withals, according to Scientific American. It reads: “Fasting is a great remedy of a fever.” And while many healthcare professionals are still debating whether a fever should be fed or starved, Bindiya Gandhi, MD, a double boarded-certified integrative and family medicine practitioner, believes the latter.
“By allowing the body to starve or not fuel the infection, the body can fight it and do its job completely,” she says.
How to beat a fever
A fever is a temporary rise in body temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Typically a normal temperature sits at around 97°F (36.1°C) to 99°F (37.2°C). “When we have a cold or infection, our metabolic rate increases causing a spike in temperature as our bodies start warding off the infection,” Dr. Gandhi says.
While she doesn’t suggest feeding a fever by consuming solid foods, Dr. Ghandi says you still want to remain hydrated. “Medical doctors encourage plenty of rest and fluids when you have a fever,” she says, adding that the reason hydration is a top priority is that we lose more fluids when we’re ill. “Replacing fluids is essential as it’s easier to get dehydrated when our metabolism is revved up.”
