Phlegm And Foods That Should Be Avoided

Phlegm is the sticky, thick mucus that forms in your sinus passages and flows into the back of your throat when you are experiencing cold, flu and allergy symptoms. Although you will often simply have to wait for the symptoms to subside, you can make some choices about your diet that will minimize your phlegm production -- or at least reduce the irritation from phlegm in your throat.

Dairy Products

Although milk and other dairy products don't actually increase the amount of phlegm you produce, it can thicken the phlegm and increase how much the phlegm irritates your throat. As a general rule, liquid dairy products like milk do this more than solid dairy products like cheese -- and frozen dairy products such as ice cream can actually soothe a throat sore from phlegm irritation, according to MayoClinic.com.

Sweets

Sweets don't have a direct effect on your phlegm production, but sugar in general reduces the effectiveness of your immune response. If you have phlegm from a sinus infection, cold or other illness, sweets will prevent your body from fighting the infection at full capacity.

Spicy Foods

Spicy foods are often eaten as relief from sinus congestion, because the capsaicin can help break up mucus in the sinus passages. However, that broken up mucus runs out of the sinus cavities and into the back of your throat -- producing extra phlegm and exacerbating irritation and breathing problems from the phlegm.

Allergens

Your body produces mucus in response to allergens in your diet and environment, meaning that eating allergenic foods to which you are sensitive may increase how much phlegm you experience. Some common allergens include wheat, soy, corn, potatoes, cabbage and an array of common food additives. If you suspect a food allergy is causing your phlegm problems, check with your doctor for tests to determine what ingredients to avoid.