Can You Drink Coffee When Sick With A Cold Or Flu?
A warm beverage is often considered a remedy for a respiratory illness like a cold or the flu. In fact, studies show that hot drinks can help temporarily relieve symptoms like runny noses and sore throats. Plus, there’s no denying that a warm cup in your hands is comforting as you battle a virus.
When it comes to coffee, though, the hot nature of the beverage isn’t enough to make it a totally positive beverage option when you’re sick ― and there are a number of reasons why.
Coffee keeps you awake, but your body needs rest when sick.
“So, caffeine is a stimulant, and while it’s probably not going to have any impact on the clinical courses, either of a cold or flu or COVID or RSV … the stimulant nature of caffeine may be counterproductive,” said Suan Hassig, an associate professor emerita of epidemiology at the School of Public Health at Tulane University in New Orleans.
For infrequent coffee drinkers, it can also be dehydrating in large quantities.
“If it’s more than a mild illness, we want to be careful when we’re consuming caffeine because it’s dehydrating, it has a mild diuretic effect,” said Dr. Daniel Monti, the chair of the Department of Integrative Medicine and Nutritional Sciences at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, who also runs DrDanMonti, a medical advice Instagram account.
Additionally, coffee can upset your stomach.
It’s well known that coffee makes you poop. It’s also not rare to hear that coffee hurts certain people’s stomachs.
As mentioned above, people with certain seasonal illnesses may not want to consume something that adds to their stomach discomfort.
Other beverages are ideal.
You should make it a habit to drink other, more hydrating drinks when you have a respiratory illness.
Hot herbal teas and warm broth can also be useful beverages to drink when you’re sick.
Additionally, caffeinated teas like green tea can be easier on the stomach, making it a good replacement for someone who still wants an energy jolt but doesn’t want coffee.
Remember: When you’re sick, prioritize rest and hydration.
Inflammation in our bodies increases when we have a cold or flu, according to Monti, which results in things like congestion, a runny nose and puffiness around the eyes.
If you’re looking to lower inflammation, the two things you can do naturally is to stay hydrated and to rest.
Decreased inflammation can help alleviate some of those bothersome cold symptoms, while hydration and rest can help your body kick the virus it’s dealing with.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/drinking-coffee-cold-flu_l_651c6c50e4b00421f6631393