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Cold and flu season can leave your throat scratchy and your nose stuffed like a stocking. While you’re nursing these symptoms with over-the-counter medications, it’s important that you remember to keep taking in calories, nutrients, and liquid so that you can get back on track much quicker.
A sore throat and congestion may make it difficult to eat, but these drinks should help you along the way.
Above all else, you need to stay hydrated. Water is your best method for accomplishing this, with physicians recommending at least 8-15 fluid cups per day and ideally with distilled water for extra purity. To provide additional relief for a sore throat, the water should be at a warm or lukewarm temperature rather than cold and mixed with honey or a teaspoon or two of lemon juice.
Like water, tea can be a soothing drink for your throat while loosening up mucus. Yet some tea options are better suited for a sick day than others. Herbal teas like chamomile, peppermint, and hibiscus are well-known for being tasty home remedies, while green tea has antioxidants for anti-inflammatory support. However, black teas should be limited due to their caffeine content, with the exception of Ear Grey as it contains the useful bergamot oil.
Perhaps you’re looking for something heartier while recovering from your sickness. Chicken, beef, and vegetable broths are excellent options for hydrating yourself, finding comfort from sore throat and congestion, and providing necessary electrolytes with a more dynamic flavor profile. For additional calories and a more filling experience, upgrading to a full soup like chicken noodle can be a plus.
While water is the preferred choice for rehydration, sports drinks like Gatorade have been a staple for replenishing electrolytes like potassium and sodium during sickness. Pedialyte is also used by parents to treat children who may need nourishment and sore throat relief though it has grown in popularity for adults as well. A word of caution: stick with low or zero sugar options if you have acid reflux as the high sugar content in electrolyte drinks can trigger this condition.
These beverages are fine choices for treating your symptoms of sore throat and congestion, but what if you need to treat the root cause? At CEENTA, our board-certified ENT physicians can find the reasons for your stuffy nose and throat irritation, whether it's due to a sinus infection, tonsillitis, allergies, and more. Find relief today and schedule your same-day ENT appointment with CEENTA using our online scheduling tool or through myCEENTAchart.
This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. New patients can make appointments online with our doctors in North and South Carolina. Current patients can also make appointments through myCEENTAchart with physicians they have already seen.
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