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The Worst Foods to Eat When You Have a Sinus Infection (And What to Eat And Do Instead!)

Writer's picture: Robert CollazoRobert Collazo

Updated: Oct 30, 2024


If you are reading this blog, you or someone you know gets sinus infections. In this blog, I hope to provide helpful information to help you with this common problem.


What is a sinus infection?

A sinus infection, often called sinusitis, is where there is inflammation or swelling inside the nose and head. A sinus infection happens because the drainage system that helps keep the nose clean is blocked. When a sinus blockage occurs, fluids do not flow properly causing bacteria to multiply. This leads to an infection of the sinuses.


Symptoms of a sinus infection include:

  • stuffy nose (Sometimes one side is worse than the other)

  • difficulty breathing (especially through the nose)

  • sinus headaches (pain in the forehead or around the eyes)

  • pain or tenderness around the cheeks

  • facial swelling around the cheeks, nose, eyes, and forehead

  • ear pain or discomfort

  • postnasal drip (mucus falling down your throat)

  • runny nose or discharge (sometimes with thick yellow or green mucus)

  • high fever (38C, 100.4F or higher)

  • fatigue (especially if chronic)

  • cough

  • sometimes even aching in the teeth


What are the worst foods I can eat if I have or am prone to sinus infections?

  • Dairy products

    • milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, cream, etc.

  • Tomatoes (including tomato sauce)

  • Chocolate

  • Cold or raw foods

    • sashimi, sushi, salads, steak tartar, tofu, celery, cucumber, bananas, pears, etc.

  • Desserts and sweets

  • Alcohol (including wine)

  • Carbohydrates (especially the refined ones)

  • Fatty or greasy foods

  • Gluten products

  • Processed sugar

  • Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

  • Any foods you are allergic to


What should I do if I have a sinus infection?

  • Drink plenty of distilled water throughout the day to promote drainage

  • Eat foods that have a healthy supply of both vitamins A and C. Vitamin A is essential for healthy mucus lining of the respiratory tract while vitamin C is recognized to help both treat and prevent sinus infections

  • Avoid anything that may trigger your sinus infection

  • Strengthen the immune system with mild to moderate daily exercise. High-intensity exercise and overexertion can believe it or not weaken the immune system

  • Develop normal sleeping habits

  • Steam inhalation helps drain the sinuses

  • Chicken soup with green onions, ginger, turmeric, cilantro, or dark leafy greens

  • Fresh mint tea may also help.

    • Cut some fresh "sweet mint" leaves with stems from your garden or buy in a pot from Home Depot.

    • Gently wash off any dirt and debris

    • Put 7 to 12 leaves with its stem into a cup of hot water for a few minutes before drinking


What else can I do to help me with my sinus infection?

Chinese Herbal Medicine

In Chinese Medicine, one of the best ways to improve the health of your sinuses, lungs, throat, and immune system is Chinese Herbal Medicine. It can be used for recovery, restoration, and maintenance.


How it works is that the herbalist will ask you some specific questions, observe your tongue, feel your temperature, and read your pulse to determine the root cause as to why your body is not healing this problem. Based on the pattern diagnosis, Chinese herbs will be prescribed to shrink swollen glands, reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, detoxify, expel pathogenic factors, clear phlegm, or regulate the immune system. Chinese herbal medicine helps patients get better faster with fewer visits to the clinic and better longer-lasting results.


Be sure to talk to a Chinese Medicine Herbalist so he or she can assess your condition to determine which herbal formula will benefit you the most. Chinese Herbal Medicine is not a one-size-fits-all, for the best results, herbal formulas should be personalized.


Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a great way to treat sinus issues because it can:

  1. Improve blood flow into the sinuses to improve the delivery of oxygen, nutrients, immune cells, medications, and even Chinese Herbs into the sinuses. It also improves blood flow leaving the sinuses to help flush out retained waste or bacteria that causes inflammation in the sinuses.

  2. The other amazing thing about acupuncture is that with enough treatments spaced properly apart, it can retrain the body to keep the blood flowing into and out of the sinuses. This results in sustained improvements that can last a very long time.


Written by Robert Collazo A.P.


Robert Collazo is an Acupuncturist and Herbalist in Coral Gables specializing in internal medicine, especially sinus or respiratory conditions. He loves sharing his passion for effective holistic solutions at Restorative Care Acupuncture & Health. He always strives to provide his patients with the best acupuncture in Miami for sinus and respiratory health.


For more information about our sinus treatment approach and other services, please visit our website at www.acureallyworks.com. Experience the difference that a comprehensive and personalized approach to health care can make at Restorative Care Acupuncture & Health.

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