No, you don’t need to fast if you have COVID; eating and drinking as you can helps energy, hydration, and recovery.
When you’re sick, “doing nothing” can feel like doing something. A fast might sound clean and simple. With COVID, most people do better with steady fluids and easy food, even if it’s just a few bites at a time.
This page breaks down when fasting can backfire, what to do instead, and how to handle the days when appetite is missing. It’s home-care guidance for mild illness. If your symptoms feel severe or scary, seek medical care right away.
Do I Need To Fast If I Have COVID?
For most people, no. COVID already taxes your body with fever, aches, cough, and poor sleep. Skipping food can pile on low energy, dizziness, and dehydration, especially if you’re also sweating or breathing fast.
If you can eat, aim for small meals and regular sips. If you can’t eat much, focus on fluids and a few carb-and-protein bites when they’ll stay down. The goal is steady intake, not a perfect menu.
People sometimes ask, “do i need to fast if i have covid?” because they’re trying to “starve the virus.” That idea doesn’t match how your body works during infection. Your immune response, breathing muscles, and healing tissues run on water, salt, and calories.
Quick checks before you decide
- Are you running a fever? Fever raises fluid needs. A fast can dry you out fast.
- Are you taking meds? Some meds hit the stomach harder on an empty belly.
- Do you have a condition that makes low blood sugar risky? If yes, fasting can be unsafe.
- Is your appetite low? That’s common. You can still sip, nibble, and get through the day.
Fast Or Eat While Sick With COVID At Home
If you’re weighing a fast against eating, think in plain trade-offs. A fast can lower intake of fluids and electrolytes right when your body is losing them through sweat, rapid breathing, or diarrhea.
Eating doesn’t need to be “three full meals.” A mug of soup, a banana, and a yogurt still count. You’re trying to keep your tank from hitting empty.
| What’s going on | If you fast | Better move |
|---|---|---|
| Fever or night sweats | Higher dehydration risk | Sip water, oral rehydration drink, or broth |
| Sore throat | Less swallowing, less fluid | Warm tea, soup, smoothies, soft foods |
| Nausea | Empty stomach can feel worse | Small salty crackers, toast, ginger tea |
| Diarrhea | Electrolytes drop faster | Oral rehydration + bland carbs |
| Low appetite | Calories fall to near zero | Nibble every 2–3 hours, even if it’s tiny |
| Taking pain or fever meds | More stomach upset for some people | Take with food if the label says so |
| Diabetes or pregnancy | Blood sugar swings, dehydration risk | Skip fasting; eat and drink on a schedule |
| Light symptoms, no fever | May feel okay short term | Still prioritize fluids and easy calories |
If you want an official “what to do” checklist for COVID symptoms at home, the NHS COVID-19 symptoms and what to do page is a clear place to start.
Fasting If You Have COVID On Sick Days
Even a short fast can be rough during an acute infection. COVID can cause fever, reduced smell and taste, stomach upset, and a dry cough that leaves you tired. When intake drops, you can feel shaky, headachy, and wiped out.
Fasting can also make it harder to track what’s going on. Lightheadedness from low fluids can feel like “worsening illness,” and you may miss early signs that you need more water or more calories.
What your body needs most
- Fluids: Water, broth, oral rehydration drinks, or diluted juice.
- Salt and potassium: Lost with sweat and diarrhea; soups and oral rehydration drinks help.
- Easy energy: Carbs can be the easiest fuel when you feel ill.
- Protein: Small daily amounts help maintain muscle, even if portions are small.
Hydration Moves That Actually Work
If you do one thing well, make it hydration. Sip early and often, even if you’re not thirsty. A big glass can feel like a chore when you’re queasy, so go for small sips on a timer.
Check your urine as a simple signal. Dark yellow can mean you need more fluid. If you can’t keep liquids down, or you’re getting dizzy when you stand, that’s a cue to get medical advice.
Simple hydration checklist
- Keep a bottle or mug within reach.
- Aim for frequent sips, not big chugs.
- Use broth or an oral rehydration drink if you’re sweating or have diarrhea.
- If plain water tastes off, try cold water, warm tea, or water with a splash of juice.
- Limit alcohol while you’re sick; it can worsen dehydration.
If your throat is raw, cold drinks may sting, and hot ones may burn. Try warm soup, room-temp water, or ice chips. A humidifier or steamy shower can ease dryness overnight, sometimes too.
Food That Goes Down Easy
You don’t need fancy meals. You need food that you can tolerate. Think “soft, salty, and simple,” then add protein when it feels doable.
For general nutrition and hydration tips during COVID, WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean office has a practical page on nutrition advice for adults during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Good options when appetite is low
- Soup with rice or noodles
- Oatmeal, porridge, or cream of wheat
- Toast, crackers, or plain pasta
- Bananas, applesauce, or canned fruit
- Yogurt or kefir
- Eggs, tofu, or soft beans in small portions
- Smoothies with milk or yogurt
If nausea is the main problem
Start tiny. A few crackers, a spoon of rice, or half a banana can settle the stomach for some people. If that works, build from there.
Strong smells can flip nausea on fast. Cold foods, simple carbs, and bland soups tend to be easier than fried or spicy meals.
Intermittent Or Religious Fasting During COVID
Plenty of people follow a fasting routine, and getting sick can throw it off. If you’re mildly ill and still want a fasting window, be honest about what you’re trading away. The moment you’re feverish, dizzy, or dehydrated, stop fasting and rehydrate.
A softer approach often works better than an all-or-nothing fast. Shorten the fasting window, eat earlier, and choose foods that are gentle on your stomach. Your routine can restart once you feel steady again.
Ways to modify a fast without white-knuckling it
- Pause the fast until symptoms ease.
- Keep fluids steady all day, then eat two small meals during your eating window.
- Add an oral rehydration drink after fever or diarrhea.
- Pick easy foods first, then add heavier meals later.
Medication And Meal Timing
With COVID, many people use over-the-counter fever and pain meds. Some are easier on the stomach with food. Read the label and follow it closely.
If you were prescribed an antiviral or another treatment, follow the dosing instructions and ask a pharmacist if food timing matters. Don’t skip doses just to keep a fast.
When Skipping Food Can Be Okay Briefly
If you’re vomiting, you may not be able to eat for a short stretch. That can be normal for a day. The priority is getting fluids in tiny sips so you don’t get dehydrated.
Once vomiting settles, restart with bland carbs, then add protein. If vomiting or diarrhea is persistent, or you can’t keep fluids down, get medical care.
When To Get Medical Care Instead Of Toughing It Out
COVID can turn serious. Don’t wait for “perfect” timing if you feel unsafe. If you have trouble breathing, new chest pain, confusion, or your lips or face look bluish or gray, seek emergency care.
If you’re older, pregnant, immunocompromised, or have chronic illness, call a clinician early to ask about treatment options and warning signs.
| What you notice | What to do now | Get urgent care now |
|---|---|---|
| Can’t keep fluids down | Try tiny sips every few minutes | Signs of dehydration or fainting |
| Breathing feels hard | Sit upright, slow your breathing | Severe shortness of breath |
| New chest pressure or pain | Stop activity and rest | Chest pain that doesn’t ease |
| Confusion or hard-to-wake sleepiness | Have someone stay nearby | Sudden confusion or unresponsiveness |
| Blue/gray lips or face | Call emergency services | Right away |
| Fever that keeps returning | Use fever meds as directed | Fever with worsening breathing |
| Diarrhea plus dizziness | Use oral rehydration drink | Blood in stool or severe weakness |
| High-risk condition or pregnancy | Call a clinician early | Rapid worsening of symptoms |
A Simple 24-Hour Sick-Day Plan
When your brain feels foggy, a loose plan helps. Keep it simple. You’re aiming for steady fluids, steady calories, and rest that lets your body do its work.
Morning
- Take your temperature and check how you feel when you stand.
- Drink a mug of water or tea, then keep sipping.
- Eat something small: toast, oatmeal, yogurt, or soup.
Midday
- Rotate fluids: water, broth, oral rehydration drink.
- Add protein in a small portion: eggs, yogurt, tofu, or beans.
- If you’re tired, nap. Don’t fight it.
Evening
- Pick one warm meal that’s easy: soup with rice, noodles, or potatoes.
- Set out water for the night if you wake up dry-mouthed.
- Check symptoms once more. If you feel worse, call for care.
Where This Leaves You
Most of the time, fasting isn’t the move when you have COVID. Your body needs fluids and easy calories to get through fever, cough, and low appetite.
If you keep asking “do i need to fast if i have covid?”, treat it as a cue to reset your plan: drink first, eat what you can tolerate, and rest. When you’re steady again, you can return to your usual routine.