Do Hot Liquids Ease Symptoms of a Cold or Flu?
Would you like a nice, steamy liquid to go with your cold? Yes.
Anahad O'Connor of the New York Times addresses whether or not hot liquids ease symptoms of a cold or flu. In a study done by researchers at the Common Cold Center at Cardiff University in Britain, hot drinks provided "immediate and sustained relief from symptoms of runny nose, cough, sneezing, sore throat, chilliness and tiredness," while the same drinks at room temperature provided relief for less symptoms.
I have unknowingly been testing this theory on myself all week, as my throat feels like a cat crawled in and scratched at it and my voice sounds more like Scarlett Johanssen as a toad with each passing day. Since I don't have a taste for coffee or tea—unless there are copious amounts of milk and sugar involved—I drink water 99 percent of the time. Not wanting to drink cups of hot water to ease my throat, what has been my drink of choice these past few days? Hot chocolate (we still have leftover mix from our taste test from 2007, and I have no shame). Is it doing wonders for my symptoms? I can't tell, but the psychological effects have been positive. And, in case my mom is reading this, don't worry; I'm still drinking plenty of water.
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19 Comments:
Get well soon!!
When I'm sick, all I want to do is drink room temperature water and tea, and eat pho, miso ramen, or Japanese mushroom soup with konbu and tofu. They are my sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head cure...along with taking a whole day off, bundling myself up in a blanket, sleeping 20 hours, and sweating it out.
Cassaendra at 7:27PM on 01/29/09
It might not be proven medical advice, but I looooove eating pho (and pretty much everything else Cassaendra mentioned) when I am sick. Good stuff. Feel better!
alosha7777 at 7:56PM on 01/29/09
Whenever I get sick, I love adding a spoon of honey and a spritz of lemon to hot water. It always seems to sooth my sore throat. Feel better Robyn!
moguxp at 8:01PM on 01/29/09
Robyn,
I am right there with you. I have a rotten cold myself. I've been on a stead rotation of water (often with Airborne), green tea, and Nighty Night tea--with honey. It does seem to help. Feel better soon!
Joy Manning at 8:24PM on 01/29/09
Ditto on the honey and lemon in hot water. (and, a half shot of whiskey in there won't hurt...)
Also, Traditional Medicinals Gyspy Cold Care Tea. I know you said you're not so much with the tea drinking, but this stuff works magic.
AliceBlue at 9:07PM on 01/29/09
@Robyn - We have an old family recipe that works wonders.
In 16 oz of boiling water toss 2 tbs of grated ginger. Turn off heat and cover and let sit 5-10 minutes (I go for 8). Mix in 2 tbs honey, 1 tbs of lemon juice and a dash of cayenne pepper.
Drink all of it, sipping from a thin porcelain tea cup, preferably while sitting in a hot tub. When done, get into warm jammies and crawl into comforter covered bed.
I guarantee you will feel better.
When I get sick I generally make a couple of quarts at a time because when you're really sick and there's no one to make the ginger tea for you it's a hassle. I just nuke it.
chisai at 9:59PM on 01/29/09
I hope you feel better soon, and that someone is making you congee!
onedaylingers at 12:14AM on 01/30/09
Gosh, feel better soon. My mom's homeopathic doc recommends kettle style potato chips and pineapple juice...works!
katnsatoshi at 1:24AM on 01/30/09
Thanks for your suggestions, guys! I had nooo idea that people were going to give me their remedies. You're too caring.. ;_; You're like my collective mother.
What have I learned? Note to self: get some honey and lemon. (And kettle chips?) And warmer jammies. And hope I don't die before Sunday which will be the next day I get to like...sleep.
roboppy at 1:32AM on 01/30/09
I go with soup, because water gets dead boring if you're drinking that much of it. Best I've found is water or chicken broth, with a lot of grated ginger, some cayenne, and lemon. Then throw in some broccoli. You can change the amount of spice and lemon depending on how sick you are (ie, what you can taste). The flavours are really good together and it really makes me feel much better - lots of good stuff too.
leilah at 1:51AM on 01/30/09
I, too, am under the weather. Feel well, Robyn.
azured00 at 8:29AM on 01/30/09
Definitely get a knob of ginger to simmer on the stove with some fresh lemon juice, and sweeten with honey. I swear this knocks out all the yuckies, and makes you feel all warm and toasty. It's the go-to cuppa when any in my household are sick. My kids call it "tummy tea".
juliebugsmama at 8:50AM on 01/30/09
For me, I love hot and sour soup -- tons of vinegar and garlic and red pepper to really relieve congestion. Also, besides the teas with honey, I also drink Cup O Noodle soup. It is very salty but the salt is good for soothing sore throats and chasing away any lingering bacteria that are waiting to strike after the viruses take their toll.
CarrieBeth at 9:09AM on 01/30/09
I'm sipping a cup of coffee right now, hoping it will dislodge the cement that has taken up residence in my sinuses. They are so clogged my upper molars hurt. I'm considering asking my dear mother to make her curried beef for me - it always makes my nose run and I'd love to have a runny nose right now.
I believe I'll have a cup of tea after the coffee. I think I have some ginger tea left over from the preggo days...
My condolences to anyone else feeling crappy.
AuntJone at 10:34AM on 01/30/09
Hope you feel better soon.
Try this: a mug of any type of broth or boullion, with a clove of minced/ pressed garlic, a squirt of sriracha and a few grinds of black pepper. If you are hungry, add noodles or rice.
Kerosena at 10:51AM on 01/30/09
Skip anything with milk - I promise it will not help at all.
The ginger tea with lemon and honey will. Personally, I consume copious amounts of chicken soup, Copious. And I also like the feel of soda on my sore throat, although I'd never recommend that (said while ducking for cover) out loud.
Love, Mom
PerkyMac at 10:55AM on 01/30/09
I wonder what ScarJo sounds like when she gets sick. I picture two options: either her voice completely dissolves, just poof, or she sounds like Robyn Lee.
Erin Zimmer at 12:19PM on 01/30/09
Was going to say something encouraging, but then I read the two first comments about pho. I was instantly whisked away to this wonderful world of soupy noodleness. Will write something when I return from my mental expedition...
kaares at 5:21PM on 01/31/09
I can recommend Lemsip, not sure if you have it over there. I have to stock up on it whenever I'm in England. It is a powder you mix with warm water. The original flavor is lemon (and why anyone would have any other is beyond me). There is also some paracetamol and other gobbledygook in there so you can't really chug it down like you might want too. You have lemon tea for that :)
kaares at 5:35PM on 01/31/09