For colds, juices rich in Vitamin C (oranges, kiwi, berries), anti-inflammatory ginger, turmeric, and lemon, plus immune-supporting carrots, spinach, and tomato, are great choices, often combined in blends like orange-ginger-turmeric or green apple-kale-lemon for boosted immunity and symptom relief.
Apples, carrots, and ginger make a good juice blend for a cold. Apples and carrots provide vitamins A and C. These vitamins are high in antioxidants and may help protect the immune cells. On the other hand, the good old ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Chug orange juice. Orange juice is a yummy way to hydrate, but there's conflicting research on whether it can help your cold. The acid can irritate a sore or inflamed throat. Many store-bought orange juices are also high in sugar, which is not recommended for treating cold symptoms.
Many cultures use warm liquids, such as chicken soup, tea or warm apple juice, for colds. Warm liquids might ease stuffiness by increasing mucus flow. Try honey. Honey may help coughs in adults and children who are older than age 1.
According to Healthline, the 9 healthiest juices you can drink in terms of their unique phytonutrient content are:
"100% natural juice" means the beverage contains only liquid extracted from fruits or vegetables, with no added sugars, artificial flavors, or preservatives, though it can come from concentrate (water removed and then added back) or not (bottled fresh), and sometimes uses other juices for blending (like apple/grape for cranberry) to make it palatable, while still technically being 100% juice from fruit sources. It's pure fruit/vegetable liquid, but the "natural" aspect often involves processing like pasteurization and reintroducing flavors/vitamins from the source fruit, explains Dadu Fresh.
Drink water, tea, or coffee (with little or no sugar). Limit milk/dairy (1-2 servings/day) and juice (1 small glass/day). Avoid sugary drinks. The more veggies — and the greater the variety — the better.
Whether its tea, warm water with lemon or broth, drinking warm liquids can be soothing, prevent dehydration and ease congestion. Avoid salty foods, alcohol, coffee and sugary drinks, which can be dehydrating. Ice chips are another simple way to stay hydrated and calm a scratchy throat. Gargle with salt water.
Vomiting and diarrhea with upset stomach can cause dehydration. Sports drinks with electrolytes are the best way to prevent dehydration. If you're having trouble keeping liquids down, try sucking on ice chips and taking small sips of water. You can also drink noncaffeinated sodas, such as Sprite, 7UP or ginger ale.
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If you have a severe infection or are at high risk of complications from a flu infection, your healthcare professional may prescribe an antiviral medicine to treat the flu. These medicines can include oseltamivir (Tamiflu), baloxavir (Xofluza) and zanamivir (Relenza). You take oseltamivir and baloxavir by mouth.
Most citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, lemons, and limes contain high levels of vitamin C, which is thought to help fight infection by increasing your white blood cells. Whether you eat them whole, or squeeze the juice onto your food, don't forget to add these tangy fruits to your regular diet.
Avoid spicy foods, fried items, cold dairy, and acidic fruits like oranges or pineapples. These can irritate your throat, increase coughing, or trigger more mucus, making your symptoms worse and recovery slower.
Here are six dietitian approved options:
Stay hydrated with water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can dehydrate you. Eat chicken soup. Chicken soup and other warm fluids, such as warm apple juice or tea, can be soothing and loosen congestion.
7 Best Juices To Drink When Sick
See six tips below.
Green tea is packed with antioxidants that have been shown to enhance immune system function. It also contains amino acids that may aid in the production of germ-fighting compounds in your T-cells, which reduces inflammation in the body and helps fight infection. Green tea can be consumed hot, cold or as matcha powder.
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The best natural cold and flu remedies
No, a cold usually doesn't go away in just 2 days, though you might feel some improvement as it peaks around days 2-3, with most symptoms resolving within 7 to 10 days as your immune system fights the virus. While some people experience shorter durations, typically a cold needs about a week to 10 days to fully run its course, with rest and hydration being key for recovery, and zinc taken early potentially shortening it slightly.
Healthy? No. Drinking this 500ml bottle of Ribena gives you 60% of your daily amount of sugar in one hit. As sugary as a can of Coke, and with almost 100 more calories to boot, you'd do yourself a favour by choosing a less sugary option.
If you're looking for healthy drinks besides plain water, try pomegranate, cranberry, and beet juice. You can also make yourself a smoothie for a hydration and nutrition boost.