MadameNoire Featured Video

congestion relief

Source: PeopleImages / Getty

Congestion isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s frustrating. When you’re all stuffed up, you can rarely speak half a sentence before having to stop to blow your nose. Simply having a conversation feels like a hassle. Then there’s the fact that you can’t sleep. The only way you can possibly breathe while you’re in bed is by propping yourself up on so many pillows that you’re basically sitting up. You just can’t doze off like that. You’ve also got a tiny trashcan next to your bed and a tissue box because you have to blow your nose every half hour. You’re breathing through your mouth, which leaves your lips chapped and your breath particularly funky. You sound funny, so some people can’t even understand a word you say. And you have this terrible pressure between your eyeballs. If you took a few wrong turns and caught a cold, and you’re trying to go easy on the over-the-counter drugs, make sure your diet is on your side. Here are foods that make congestion worse.

 

congestion relief

Source: Eskay Lim / EyeEm / Getty

Sweets

Refined sugar causes inflammation, which means a closing of the nasal passages and throat. When these become narrow, it becomes even harder to pass mucus through them. Avoid candy and cake when you’re stuffed up.

Comment Disclaimer: Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN