Is Ice Cream Good For Tonsillitis?

While you are having pain in your throat due to tonsillitis, you may find that eating ice cream provides some relief. Just like any other frozen dessert, ice cream may numb your throat and provide temporary alleviation of pain. Ice cream is a soft, non-irritating food that you can eat while your throat is hurting. Eating more solid foods like crusty bread or anything with a hard edge can be painful.

Since you are not eating enough due to pain during swallowing, the extra calories ice cream gives you will not be a matter of much concern. Keeping this in mind, eating ice cream is a common recommendation that can be given to relieve pain and discomfort from tonsillitis. Eating a soft, non-irritating food like ice cream is helpful in numbing the painful area caused by tonsillitis. Because of this, the patient feels better at least for a few minutes. Also, as ice cream is often a comfort food, it might make you feel a little better to have a tasty treat at this low time.

While you may find ice cream relieving for your tonsillitis, choosing certain ice creams may worsen the irritation. For instance, an ice cream with cookie bits, nuts and such candy toppings will be difficult to swallow and they may further irritate your throat. Also do not choose ice cream desserts that are ultra-sweet in flavor, such as fudge sauce and caramel. They may increase irritation in your already inflamed throat.

If you have allergy to milk or dairy products, then also you should not consider eating ice cream to relieve tonsillitis. If that’s the case, you can consider trying some non-dairy frozen desserts, such as Popsicles or sorbet. We even have a recipe for non-dairy almond milk ice cream if you have the energy to make it. Depending on your personal experience, you will be able to find the right ice cream for you that can relieve your sore throat and tonsillitis conditions.

While many people find ice cream soothing for the symptoms of tonsillitis, you should consult your dietician first if you are following strict diet restrictions. Most cases of tonsillitis are caused by a virus, but more serious type is caused by bacteria and usually needs medical attention. If you are having sore throat accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, rash and swollen lymph nodes, and if your tonsillitis last more than 7 days, then they may be symptoms of strep throat and you need to seek help from a professional medical expert. If your tonsillitis is recurrent and if your throat remains hoarse for more than 2 weeks, then also you need to see your doctor and avoid eating ice cream unless your doctor advises you.

A tonsillectomy is the surgical procedure to remove your tonsils and the lymph tissue present at the back of your throat. If your tonsillitis comes back frequently (i.e. chronic tonsillitis), then this surgery may be required to let you get rid of the root cause. If you recently got your tonsils removed with surgery, then you must be experiencing pain in the area.

You may not be able to chew and swallow any solid foods properly. In that case, your doctor may recommend you to eat soft and bland foods, like ice cream. Ice cream is believed to stop bleeding and inflammation in the cuts made during the surgery. These are the reasons why:

• After the tonsillectomy, your diet will primarily consist of soft food and drink only. Fluids are easy on the throat and helpful in decreasing nausea and coating the stomach.
• Ice cream does not irritate your throat which has already been inflamed due to the surgery.
• Ice cream provides some hydration to your throat, as dehydration may delay your healing process and exacerbate throat pain.
• Soft and cold foods like ice cream are easy to swallow and do not inflame or irritate the sensitive tissue in your throat.
• Ice cream is mild and should not contain any spices (unless you want to add it yourself). Spicy food may irritate your throat lining and lead to additional pain.

Eating ice cream provides temporary relief from pain due to tonsillitis, but does not cure the condition. Here are a few steps you should take to treat the problem:

• If your tonsillitis persists for more than a week, then you should visit a doctor and let them diagnose your condition accurately. Viral infection usually heals on its own, but if yours is a bacterial infection, you will need to treat it with antibiotics. To test the type of your infection, your doctor will take some mucus from your throat and test it for bacteria.
• If the tonsillitis is caused by bacteria, they will prescribe a course of antibiotics. It usually involves penicillin to be taken orally for 10 days. If you have a penicillin allergy, a different antibiotic will be recommended.
• Take sufficient rest to let your body heal.
• Drink cold fluids to soothe your throat. Warm food is OK, but not hot, e.g. let a cup of tea cool considerably before drinking.
• You may be given pain killers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen to control fever and relieve pain.
• Surgery might be required if your infection does not respond to any of these treatment procedures. Following surgery, you will be sent home immediately and you will need a recovery time of 2 to 3 weeks depending on age and vulnerability.

• If you have been prescribed antibiotics, complete the full course even if you feel well before it is finished.
• Eat soft foods that do not irritate your throat. Take meat, broth and vegetables that provide energy to your body to clear the infection. Vegetables also offer minerals and vitamins to your body and boost your immunity.
• While you are suffering from tonsillitis, enjoy more of vegetable purees and soups, including purees with carrots, butternut squash, spinach and celery. You may add to the nutrition by incorporating some chicken as well.
• Increase your liquid intake to keep yourself hydrated. Fluids will keep your throat moisturized so that the pain stays under control. In addition to water, you may also soothe the condition by drinking juices and teas. Warm lemonade with some honey may also help. You may drink it a few times a day to get relief.
• Ice cream, sorbets and slushies are proven to control pain and reduce inflammation.
• Boiled rice is easy on throat and provides energy too. Instead of eating it plain, you may also add some salt, parsley or dill for a little flavor.
• Other foods that can be helpful in relieving tonsillitis include plain pasta, boiled spinach, mashed potatoes, ginger tea, honey, scrambled eggs and yoghurt.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to Is Ice Cream Good For Tonsillitis?, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.