Can I eat apples with a cold and cough? Generally speaking, apples are cool in nature and have the effect of clearing heat, lowering fire and relieving cough. Coughs and colds are divided into wind-heat and wind-cold, and in general, a wind-heat cough is usually characterized by yellow phlegm and a runny nose. This is the most suitable time to eat apples, which can play a role in defeating fire and also help to recover from cold and cough. However, eating more apples can cause some irritation to the stomach and skin, so 1-2 apples a day is enough. Don’t eat an excessive amount of apples because of their therapeutic effect, which will aggravate the burden on the digestive system.