Coming Down With a Cold? Drink Up
Contracting a cold isn't the worst thing in the world, but it sure isn't pleasant. The sniffling, sneezing, and sore throat make life temporarily uncomfortable, and new research says that easing those symptoms could be as simple as hydrating with hot beverages.
It's hard to believe that it's brand new research, considering generations of caretakers have stood by this advice, but Cardiff University's Common Cold Centre claims it's the first scientific study of its kind. Thirty volunteers were given apple and blackcurrant drinks served at room temperature or hot, and the group experienced immediate relief from coughing, sore throat, chilliness, and tiredness. After 15 minutes, they noticed relief from a running nose and sneezing.
The study noted, "In conclusion, the results support the folklore that a hot tasty drink is a beneficial treatment for relief of most symptoms of common cold and flu." Make your beverages hot the next time you're sniffling your way through a cold — maybe you'll go through fewer tissues!
