Do Cough Drops Break a Fast? Can You Have Cough Drops While Fasting?

Cough drops may interfere with a fast if they contain carbs, which many do. Sugar-free cough drops with few calories may not activate an insulin response. Yet, if you take several of them quickly, you may kick off an insulin spike. If you have a cough and are fasting, it’s best to stick with cough medication with zero calories.

How Many Calories in Cough Drops?

A typical cough drop has up to 16 calories per piece. Cough drops, or lozenges, usually have higher calories if they contain sugar or additives for taste. Sugar-free cough drops may be under 10 calories per piece.

Remember that the exact calorie content differs by cough drop size, ingredients, and brand. If you’re concerned about the calories, look for sugar-free ones with minimal calories. Many people consume multiple cough drops daily to soothe their throats and get some relief. But those calories can increase, especially if the cough drops are sugary.

When fasting for weight loss, it’s important to track every last calorie, even from cough drops. That’s where the Fastic app comes in handy. It has a calorie tracking feature that automatically lets you manually add everything you consume during the fast and once you’ve broken it. That way, you get the exact measure of calories consumed at the end of the day.

Cough Medication During Fasting

Today, there are multiple cough medication options, most available over the counter. They come in different forms: pills, syrups, gummies, and drops. Whether a cough medication is acceptable during a fast depends on whether it has enough carbs to start an insulin response.

Cold medications, like pills, typically have no calories, so they can technically be consumed during a fast. Syrups, gummies, and cough drops may contain sugars and flavors that can interfere with the fasted state. Cough medication for children, in particular, is made sweeter with additives so it can go down easily.

If you’re intermittent fasting, you should avoid any cough medication, including drops, that contain sugar. Although not a rule, a cough drop with over five calories should be strictly avoided during a fast.

Should I Fast During a Cold or Cough?

The research is divided on whether fasting can help the common cold. While some argue that the body needs nutrition to fight the illness, some research indicates that fasting may boost immunity.

It’s not uncommon to lose your appetite during a cold, which may make you think you might as well fast. Interestingly, an article published in the British Journal of Pharmacology linked the loss of appetite during illness to human evolutionary development. A low appetite leads to less energy being used for digestion, preserving it instead. Research also suggests that limiting nutrition may inhibit the supply of nutrients to the pathogens, causing an infection.

The scientific community has no clear consensus on whether fasting is good or bad during a common cold, usually associated with a cough. The best thing to do is to speak with a doctor about whether you should continue fasting during a cold or cough.

Generally, if you feel hungry while sick, feel free to eat. It’s not the best idea to starve yourself while recovering. Plus, you’ll need to take medication and immunity-boosting foods, which may break your fast anyway.

What Do Cough Drops Contain?

Cough drops are typically made from a variety of ingredients, including some natural ones that are known to provide relief. Most commonly, lozenges and cough drops contain menthol. It’s an organic compound made from mint, eucalyptus, and peppermint. Other natural ingredients found in cough drops are honey and ginger. Cough drops may also contain benzocaine, which is an anesthetic.

If you don’t like the minty feel of menthol-based cough drops, you can also find non-menthol ones that contain pectin.

Alternatives to Cough Drops While Fasting

Cough drops aren’t the only solution for relieving cough. Other medication options, as well as home remedies, can provide much-needed relief.

Expectorants: This type of cough medication usually contains guaifenesin or dextromethorphan, which can help thin mucus and make coughing easier. Unlike sugary cough drops, it may not break your fast. However, it may have side effects like dizziness and constipation.
Honey: A spoonful of honey, especially raw honey, can coat the throat and soothe a cough. Honey has antimicrobial properties, which may help suppress the spread of bacterial infection. It’s especially great for cough caused by a cold or sore throat. Keep in mind that honey breaks a fast.
Warm Liquids: Drinking warm liquids like tea, broth, or water can help soothe a sore throat and thin mucus. The good thing is that water, tea, and some broth are calorie-free and don’t interfere with a fast. If you must continue fasting while coughing, ensure you get plenty of fluids.
Humidifier: Dry air can also cause coughing. A humidifier can add moisture to the air, helping relieve congestion and coughing. The optimal humidity range is between 30% and 50%.
Saltwater gargle: Gargling with warm salt water can help soothe a sore throat. Do it multiple times during the day to clear out mucus and relieve the cough caused by it. This remedy is also fast-friendly.
Herbal Teas: Teas made with soothing herbs like chamomile or peppermint can help relieve cough and congestion. Since they’re calorie-free, they won’t break your fast. Just don’t add any sugar!
Ginger: Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe a sore throat. Since it’s hard to consume on its own, consuming it in tea or with honey is recommended.

Cough drops that aren’t sugary are safe to consume while fasting. Still, don’t overdo it by consuming one after another is a short period. You may want to limit or avoid fasting altogether if you’re coughing because of a cold, flu, or another medical condition. Your priority should be to cure the illness causing the cough.

If you have more questions about fasting, the AI bot in the Fastic app can answer them on the go.