Nasal congestion causes things such as the inability to smell, changes in one’s voice and taste buds, and, in many cases, headaches. Nasal congestion is often a symptom of other health issues, such as sinusitis and the common cold. Certain foods, such as ginger and green leafy vegetables, tend to reduce the severity of nasal congestion. On the other hand, some foods simply make the symptoms worse. Here is a list of some such foods.

1. Tacos
When discussing the foods that worsen nasal congestion, spicy foods are among the top ones. Tacos are delicious but make people’s ears ring and their noses run for hours. Spicy foods like tacos create a lot of histamine in a person’s body. This chemical can cause allergic reactions and inflammation in the sinus area. As a result, if someone already has a congested nose, eating a taco is destined to worsen matters.

2. Milk
Although dairy products may affect different people differently, many regular milk drinkers have found increased mucus production in their lungs and noses. There is a significant correlation between chronic sinusitis flare-ups and milk consumption. In many individuals, milk facilitates the production of nasal polyps, a common precursor to sinusitis and congestion.

3. Tomatoes
These foods have several taste-making and flavor-enhancing qualities but can worsen allergies and nasal congestion in people with sinusitis. Tomatoes increase mucus production in a person’s body, while their high acidic levels can also aggravate GERD symptoms.

4. Red meat
Foods such as beef and pork, especially the processed kinds, contain several chemical preservatives and elements that aggravate inflammation in consumers. This is why regularly consuming red meat can worsen inflammation-driven health conditions like nasal congestion in individuals.

5. Cakes and pastries
Consuming foods loaded with refined sugars, such as cakes and pastries, also worsens nasal congestion in people. These foods can cause rampant inflammation in the sinus area and all over the body for consumers. Besides cakes and pastries, coffee is also considered a food that simply increases the severity of nasal congestion symptoms in individuals. As a result, anything containing sugar must be avoided at all costs.