Tonsillitis / Sore Throat

When the throat is inflamed ("Active" stage), you must avoid anything that physically scratches the lining or creates more mucus.

• Scratchy Textures:

  • Dry Snacks: Avoid Toast, Rusks, Biscuits, Chips, and Samosa crusts. These have sharp edges that will hurt when swallowing.

  • Raw Vegetables: No raw salads. Raw carrots or cucumbers are too hard to chew into a smooth paste.

  • Nuts: Whole almonds or peanuts can irritate the inflamed tissue.

• Mucus Builders:

  • Cold Dairy: Avoid cold Milk, Cheese, and especially Yogurt (Curd) at night. They can thicken saliva and mucus, making it harder to swallow.

  • Sweets: Sugary foods (sweets, chocolates) promote inflammation and can breed bacteria in the throat.

• Irritants:

  • Spicy Food: Avoid Red Chili powder, hot pickles, and overly spicy curries. 

  • Sour Foods: Avoid very sour foods like Tamarind (Imli), raw lemon concentrate, or sour buttermilk, as the acidity can sting.

Focus on Soft, Mushy Foods and Anti-bacterial ingredients.

• Soothing Soft Foods:

  • Khichdi: Overcooked Moong Dal Khichdi with a little Ghee is the ultimate comfort food. It requires no chewing and slides down easily.

  • Upma / Porridge: Soft Suji (Semolina) Upma or Oats cooked with water/milk.

  • Mashed Potatoes/Vegetables: Boiled and mashed Aloo or sweet potato.

• Healing Proteins:

  • Scrambled Eggs (Anda Bhurji): Soft and easy to swallow (keep the spice low).

  • Warm Dal Soup: Thin, watery Dal (Dal ka paani) provides protein without the bulk.

• Lubricants:

  • Ghee: Add a teaspoon of Ghee to your warm food. It lubricates the throat lining, making swallowing less painful.

Turmeric :

• Drink warm milk boiled with 1/2 tsp Turmeric and a pinch of Black Pepper at night. (Ensure the milk is low-fat or diluted with water if you are prone to heavy phlegm).

Mulethi (Licorice Root):

• Chewing on a small stick of Mulethi is a classic Ayurvedic remedy.