Is ice cream good for a sore throat? and other questions
Sometimes a sore throat requires treatment from a pharmacist or doctor to get better. Other times, you can use an at-home treatment like Chloralieve honey and lemon throat lozenges, which contain two antiseptic compounds to help your body fight off infections.[1]
Whatever the case, you’ll still need to eat while you’re recovering, and knowing what foods can help to soothe your sore throat can prevent you from accidentally making yourself feel worse. Below, we answer four frequently asked questions about how different foods affect a sore throat.
Does ice cream help a sore throat?
For children and adults alike, ice cream is often considered a comfort food we might turn to when we’re feeling under the weather – but is it beneficial for a sore throat beyond tasting nice?
NHS advice for treating sore throats at home includes eating soft, cool foods as well as sucking on ice cubes or ice lollies, which suggests that ice cream may have a similar impact.[1] However, it’s noted that sore throats may cause sensitivity to extremes of temperature – in other words, very hot or very cold foods may cause more discomfort. In this case, it’s recommended to try such foods at room temperature, so ice cream may still be beneficial if you allow it time to melt first.[2]
As for whether ice cream has any real impact on throat pain, a 2020 study found that children in post-op recovery after a tonsillectomy report an easing of pain when given ice cream to soothe their throats. While more research is needed to validate these results, all the evidence seems to point in the direction of ice cream being a useful tool in easing throat pain.
Is ginger good for a sore throat?
Another kind of food said to help a sore throat is ginger, which can be used in both savoury and sweet dishes and so may be palatable to a wider range of people than less versatile foods.
According to research, there is some evidence to suggest that ginger has antibacterial[4] and antiviral properties[5] – though more research needs to be done for scientists to be sure of this. Ginger is known to be beneficial for nausea and vomiting and can help with pain as well, so it may help with the discomfort of a sore throat.[6]
However, the evidence isn’t conclusive enough to say that ginger really helps with a sore throat.
Is spicy food good for a sore throat?
According to NHS advice, certain food types may be more likely to cause extra irritation or discomfort when you have a sore throat – and highly spicy food is included in that list. If you’re used to eating spicy foods like curries, then it may be best to try a milder, creamier version than usual in order to reduce the risk of irritation.[2]
However, in some cases it may be best to avoid spicy foods altogether. Spicy food is known to be a common trigger for gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GORD), which causes acid reflux and can lead to a sore throat.[7]
Is chocolate good for a sore throat?
For many, chocolate is the ultimate comfort food, so it’s only natural you might be tempted to pick up a bar when you’ve got an uncomfortable sore throat. Unfortunately, it might not be the best option for you.
Chocolate can sometimes have a tendency to stick in the throat, which may make your throat pain feel worse as you struggle to swallow.[2] It’s also the case that, like spicy food, chocolate can exacerbate GORD or acid reflux, so you may want to steer clear of it if you have either condition.[7]
All is not lost, though. If you’re craving a chocolate-y taste, you might find a chocolate-flavoured soft pudding such as a mousse, yoghurt or ice cream is easier to handle.[2]
Resources
[1] – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sore-throat/
[3] – Albeladi, Majid A et al. “The Effect of Ice Cream Intake on Pain Relief for Patients After Tonsillectomy.” Cureus vol. 12,7 e9092. 9 Jul. 2020, doi:10.7759/cureus.9092 Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7417068/
[4] – Park, Miri et al. “Antibacterial activity of [10]-gingerol and [12]-gingerol isolated from ginger rhizome against periodontal bacteria.” Phytotherapy research : PTR vol. 22,11 (2008): 1446-9. doi:10.1002/ptr.2473 Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18814211/
[5] – Chang, Jung San et al. “Fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale) has anti-viral activity against human respiratory syncytial virus in human respiratory tract cell lines.” Journal of ethnopharmacology vol. 145,1 (2013): 146-51. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2012.10.043 Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23123794/
[6] – Li, Huijuan et al. “Ginger for health care: An overview of systematic reviews.” Complementary therapies in medicine vol. 45 (2019): 114-123. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2019.06.002 Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31331547/
[7] – Gupta G, Mahajan K. Acute Laryngitis. [Updated 2022 Sep 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534871/
