Honey and lemon tea is an old remedy for curing a cold or sore throat. Honey is full of anti-bacterial properties good for getting rid of infection. It also coats the throat which can suppress a cough. Lemon is full of vitamin C and helps break up mucus.
The combination of lemon and honey is particularly good for easing the symptoms of a cold. The lemon can help loosen congestion and honey can soothe a sore throat. This citrus tea will also provide a nice boost of vitamin C to help the immune system.
Water with lemon.
Hot or cold, it keeps you hydrated and loosens up stuffiness and congestion. Lemon is also high in vitamin C, which may make a cold slightly shorter if you get it regularly.
Honey is a storehouse of antioxidants – flavonoids and phenolic compounds, essential vitamins and minerals. Lemon, super-rich in Vitamin C and other essential nutrients is beneficial in boosting the immunity, detoxification, delays the gastric emptying time and improves the digestive health.
Honey supposedly contains antioxidants, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties which help us fight against common cold and its symptoms. Honey and cold have been associated together because honey helps in relaxing the sore or scratchy throat naturally.
Honey appeared to improve symptoms (especially cough frequency and severity), and in some cases shorten the duration of symptoms by a day or two. The findings were only observational and don't prove honey is a cure.
Combine one cup of honey with three tablespoons of lemon juice. Add warm water to it and stir until the ingredients are mixed completely. You can take one tablespoon of this mixture twice a day for a cough once in the day, and once before going to bed for an undisturbed sleep.
Honey and lemon tea is an old remedy for curing a cold or sore throat. Honey is full of anti-bacterial properties good for getting rid of infection. It also coats the throat which can suppress a cough. Lemon is full of vitamin C and helps break up mucus.
An excellent natural remedy for the cold and flu is lemon tea with honey, as this helps to relieve nose and throat congestion and improves breathing. Add the honey to the hot water and until it is well-combined in a homogenous mixture, and then add the juice of one lemon.
Drinking this mix on a regular basis will bring down in you the instances of cold and flu and other allergies. Honey has therapeutic qualities and being rich in antioxidant, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties; it helps in keeping infections at bay and also helpful in recovery from illness.
Stay hydrated.
Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. Avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which can make dehydration worse.
Smolensky says that this immune system activity and the inflammation it produces is not constant, but instead is “highly circadian rhythmic.” As a result, “you tend to experience symptoms as most severe when your immune system kicks into highest gear, which is normally at night during sleep.”
Electrolyte solutions or sports drinks, such as Pedialyte for children and Gatorade (try the sugar-free version), are good options. Herbal teas, particularly those containing ginger, can be very soothing. Regular tea is also okay but try not to drink too much caffeine when you are sick.
Relying Too Much on Cold Treatments
But if you overdo them, cold treatments can actually have the opposite effect, making your cold symptoms worse. In fact, if you use a decongestant in spray or drop form for more than three to four days in a row, your nasal membranes will swell even more.
If you have a cold, flu, or nasal allergies that cause your sinuses to clog up, drinking warm or hot water may help ease your symptoms and make breathing easier. By contrast, drinking cold water may make you feel worse by thickening nasal mucus.
The stages of a cold include the incubation period, appearance of symptoms, remission, and recovery. The common cold is a mild upper respiratory infection caused by viruses.
Steamy showers moisturize your nasal passages and relax you. If you're dizzy from the flu, run a steamy shower while you sit on a chair nearby and take a sponge bath.
One of the many things you can do to help yourself stay hydrated when sick is “drinking things like water, juice, or electrolyte-containing fluids will help you replace the fluids and electrolytes you've lost while also loosening mucus — if you have a cold — and helping to relieve congestion,” says Dr. Dass.
Cold air holds less moisture than warm air. Dry nostrils are more prone to viruses, and if you're already sick, dry air can worsen a sore throat. Try using a humidifier. If you don't have one, leave a shallow bowl of water out, particularly near a heat source.
Lemon water is packed with vitamin C, which detoxifies your blood and boosts your immune system. While it is an excellent way to prevent colds, you can always drink warm lemon water during a cold to help loosen congestion and shorten the duration of symptoms.
Lemon is very good at breaking down this mucus, loosening it up so that we can expel it more easily. Once the mucus starts to clear up, you may find that your sore throat and cough improves too. Lemon is also a natural anaesthetic, meaning it can help to numb the pain in your throat as well.
The thick texture of honey may help lower the urge to cough, by coating and soothing the throat. It also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Honey is safe for most people except children under a year old. People with diabetes may need to limit their honey intake.
Drinking tea or warm lemon water mixed with honey is a time-honored way to soothe a sore throat. But honey alone may be an effective cough suppressant, too. In one study, children ages 1 to 5 with upper respiratory tract infections were given up to 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) of honey at bedtime.