Why do we crave certain foods and eat more when we’re sick?

Question

Currently dealing with a head cold right now, and this is a pattern I’ve just found that’s gone on for as long as I can remember.

Whenever I’m sick with a cold or flu, even COVID (had it twice in my life), I crave citrusy things like orange juice and hot tea-lemonades, bread and butter, crackers, and hearty soups on the saltier side with a lot of meat and veggies. I also tend to eat a *lot* more while sick.q Like, stuff-your-face level eating more, it’s like my tummy becomes an infinite void, lmao.

Is there any kind of science behind all of this? Do we crave specific food’s because your body’s trying to get the right nutrients to fight the infection and repair itself, or is it a comfort food thing? Thanks! 🙂

In: Biology

Answer 1

I’m the opposite. I don’t want to eat at all when I’m sick. Especially if it hurts to swallow or I’m nauseous.

Individual preferences may cause variance here.