Is it bad to drink milk while sick with the flu?

Question

I've either got the flu or something very similar and have no appetite to eat at all. I'm pretty dehydrated and would rather drink milk than anything else, but thought I remember hearing it's bad for you while sick. Is that true? Thanks...

And how about chocolate milk?

It's a stomach sickness, not a head cold or anything. Not having any problems with nose/throat...

Answer 1

If you really want milk, then you should drink milk if you do not mind extra vomitting (which might be a good thing) - but I do suggest adding some ice or watering it down first, that way it is a little thinner.

Answer 2

Before I even read the answers I knew what the answers would be. . . phlegm and milk curdling. . . . sure enough and this is such a wives tale that I am busting at the seams laughing.
Milk always coats the throat,it's just what it does.
It does NOT cause phlegm,phlegm comes from the lungs and milk never gets to the lungs.
Milk also curdles on the stomach just as soon as it hits the stomach and mixes with the stomach acids.
There is nothing wrong with drinking milk if it soothes you.
The only problem with drinking milk when you are sick is that if you have to throw up,that curdled milk is "nasty" for throwing up. . . can get in your nose and stuck in your throat. . . YUK! ! ! !
The main reason they recommend that you drink water. . clear liquids is because your body needs the water to help replenish your body once it becomes dehydrated. Milk has little water content in it.


Get to feeling better

Answer 3

Normally, you should not drink milk if you are sick, especially if you are vomiting or have diarrhea. Milk can make these conditions worse. If you have an upper respiratory infection (a cold) milk can sometimes aggravate that condition by making more mucous. So if you can stay away from the milk and milk products, it would probably be best. Try juices like orange juice, apple juice, etc. You need to drink water based fluids to help rehydrate yourself.

Answer 4

When you are sick, drink only dring fluids that appeal to your needs. If you cannot eat I would suggest only clear fluids (water, tea, broth, soup, jello, etc) Strangly, your body will tell you what you need. I would stay away from milk because it will curdle when it becomes warm in your body which is normal unless you up-chuck and that is awful. Milk products do not produce phlem(snot) but it does change form in the stomach, which is normal. (not so pleasant on the way out)

Answer 5

I'd stay away from milk. Try having water. Even though you don't want water, you should drink it just for the sake of staying hydrated. Your body works best with 8 glasses of water a day, but you may want to have only about 4 glasses to fight the antigen that's making you sick.

Answer 6

You're not supposed to drink milk when you have the stomach or the respiratory kind of flu because milk is a mucus-producer.

Answer 7

They say that water is the best for drinking when sick regardless of illness or sickness.
Milk they say tends to build up the phlegm in your mucous therefore hampering your breathing and keeping your lungs clear. So that is why water is recommended.
So if U can just stick with water. Its always the best anyway.

Answer 8

It can cause you to have more phlegm (milk). You can drink 7UP or gingerale instead. You can even drink chicken buillion. You can also make some jello and put ice cubes in it when it's still a liquid and drink that. Jello has a lot of protein.

Answer 9

dont drink milk....drink lots of water. Water is by far the best thing for you. Milk will cause major bugars, you will be snotting out your nose for days...

Answer 10

When you are sick it isn't that good to drink dairy products. Normally it will make you puke, or maybe gag... It is best to drink 7 Up, or Mountain Dew, or Sprite.
Hope this helps.