Should You Really 'Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever'?

Old adages can be pretty hit or miss—especially when it comes to medical advice—but it turns out there may actually be some truth to the saying, "feed a cold, starve a fever."

Hosted by: Stefan Chin

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[just-a-silly-goofy-guy]

Well my Grandma wouldn’t let the fever starve...


*_she’d just give it more food_*

[aaronadams]

I just eat when I'm hungry. Seems to have worked out so far.

[KingsleyIII]

When you are sick, the best advice you can follow is literally to do drugs and stay out of school.

[TheOfficialCzex]

Whenever I have a cold, I get really hungry. It's like I can feel my immune system craving energy.

[jebdea]

"Blood letting, leeches or co-pays"... lol... this is why you guys rock!

[garethdean]

Feed when cold, starve when hot.
(Even if a cold you've got.)
Drink a fluid ounce or nine,
And in the morning you'll be fine.

[kellbing]

I always knew it as the opposite: feed a fever, starve a cold. I assumed it was referring to temperature, as in stay warm. You are starving a "cold" by giving it heat, and feeding a fever by doing the same.

[nobodies]

This video just came at the right time, i'm sick and watching this in my bed, thank you

[daizyfuse]

I've grown up heading the exact opposite. "Feed a fever, starve a cold."

[dominiccasts]

"Feed a cold, drown a fever?"

A little vague, but I'm not sure how to make "stay hydrated" pithy either without that vagueness.

[lxxy]

am i the only one that’s never heard of this saying ?

[romz]

Usually when I get a cold, my appetite automatically goes up, like my body is telling me eat eat eat! Thinking back to when I last had a fever my appetite disappeared. It may well be built in to us.

[Howtard]

Feed a cold, starve a fever; don't forget to drink for either.

[RangerRuby]

How to cure a cold. One of life's most saught after answers.

[ErikBPG]

Im sick and wanted to know more about this and then you uploaded. Thank you

[matts]

SciShow is like that science experiment gift you get at Christmas. Just more often than Christmas

[grhandsftl]

Was always raised the opposite "Starve a cold, feed a fever". Always seemed to work too

[dandedvukaj]

What I take away from this video is food is always the answer.

[lzepplin]

I’ve always heard it as “Feed a fever, starve a cold”. I’ve never ever heard it the other way around.

[SunnyvaleTrailerParkSupervisor]

Great video very cool thanks for sharing x