The presents, the partying, and the high amounts of sugar and fat you ingested is likely making you pay the price today, huh? Perhaps you’re feeling a little under the weather, a slight tickle in the back of your throat, a subtle cough that hints at something deeper.
Some of us just got over our winter cold, with just enough time to be present for the holidays. But now it's time for the second wave. After two weeks of hiding in your home, what does the world have in store for you? And how can we deter it?
Water
This may seem like a silly answer, but how many of us actually remember to drink enough water when we’re sick? The answer is...probably not enough.
Sure, we need it to survive, but water does a world of good for you when you’re under the weather. Water also keeps our sinuses lubricated and our mucus thinned.
If you’re struggling with something more serious, water is also necessary to keep up with any fluid lost during a stint at the toilet.
Herbal Tea
We love a good herbal tea at any time of day, but especially when we’re under the weather. Any hot beverage is going to help break up that mucus running amok inside your sinuses, but certain herbals have the added advantage of helping with other respiratory issues.
Elderberry tea helps reduce how long you have the flu, and echinacea tea stimulates immune activity, which can help lessen the severity of bacterial infections.
For your standard cold, ginger, peppermint, and chamomile tea are all great options.
Clear Broths
Like the other two items on this list, the warmth of a broth mix is certainly going to help your sinuses drain, but there’s more to these drinks than just heat.
Clear broths can act as a more effective and good-for-you sport drink, in a way. They can help to replenish electrolytes in your body, without all the added sugar.
Furthermore, broths can help to give you protein, vitamins, minerals, and just general hydration in an easy-to-digest format. This is especially helpful for sick folks that suffer from low appetite.
Lemon & Honey
Aside from water, this is the most common drink you get when you’re under the weather, alongside a healthy amount of Vapoub under your shirt collar. But have you ever stopped to ask why these two ingredients?
For one, honey is the ultimate sore throat soother, and tastes good to boot. It’s a helpful, all-natural way to soothe a throat ravaged by a cough.
On the other hand, lemon provides vitamin C to your body, which helps with white blood cell production and immune system function. We shouldn't have to say that both are incredibly helpful when you’re trying to fight off disease.
Soup
Okay, okay, it’s not technically a drink - but you can drink it. Soup is just an extension of broth, which we already know helps with decongestion and electrolyte absorption. But, certain soups, like the famed chicken noodle or the well-to-do miso, also have their own benefits.
The ingredients within chicken soup may help to move white blood cells around, while a miso soup can fix up your gut health.
Other soups like lentil, ginger and garlic, and butternut squash, are also good options. The beautiful thing about a soup is that you’ll get something delicious and good for you, regardless of what ingredients you use.
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