Festive alcoholic drink that can soothe cold and flu symptoms

KANIKA SINGH RATHORE,

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Especially, there is nothing better than a hot drink on a cold day. During cold and flu season.

While legend has it that a hot toddy – a hot mixture of honey, lemon and whiskey – can cure worst cold and cough of winterMedical experts say that an ingredient can cause more harm than good.

Hot drinks are one of the most common home remedies for cold and flu, providing relief from symptoms including runny nose, sore throat, fever, body aches, fatigue, and cough. According to Medical News Today.

A 2008 study A study involving 30 people suffering from a cold or flu found that drinking a warm beverage reduced sore throat, chills, and fatigue compared to drinking a room temperature beverage.

Drinking a hot beverage like a hot toddy may improve a cough or sore throat — and some of its ingredients may even provide additional benefits.

Hot toddies may provide relief from the winter cold for some people, but experts warn that adding alcohol to the drink may have some negative effects.

Hot toddies may provide relief from the winter cold for some people, but experts warn that adding alcohol to the drink may have some negative effects. ,Getty/iStock,

Lemon is rich in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that is commonly used to treat colds. A 2013 study Vitamin C was found to reduce the duration and severity of colds.

Although there is currently little evidence that lemons can specifically treat cold sores, medical professionals say that taking vitamin C supplements or consuming vitamin C-rich foods may reduce the risk of getting a cold.

Meanwhile, honey has been proven as a cough remedy – and may even be as effective as some cough medicines. Verywell Health Report.

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The rationale behind using honey as a cough remedy is that it coats the throat and soothes irritation.

Experts also recommend drinking warm water in case of respiratory disease as it can provide relief. In addition to water, warm tea or broth can also improve some symptoms of the disease.

While some of the ingredients in a hot toddy may help your cold or flu – medical experts have warned about the problems that can arise from mixing alcohol.

While some of the ingredients in a hot toddy may help your cold or flu – medical experts have warned about the problems that can arise from mixing alcohol. ,Getty Images/iStockphoto,

Some people also add spices like ginger to their hot toddy, which can be helpful in treating sore throat as it has anti-inflammatory properties.

While some of the ingredients in hot toddies can certainly improve cold symptoms, medical experts warn that adding whiskey or other alcohol to the drink could cause problems.

For example, according to Medical News Today, alcohol can cause dehydration and reduce immune system function, which can worsen a sick patient’s symptoms.

Experts also urge caution against adding whiskey or other alcohol to hot toddies if the sick patient is also taking cold and flu medications that cannot be mixed with alcohol.

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