People with colds are often advised to drink hot lemon, but can this drink really help?

The German health-focused website, Heil Praxis, quotes the German Federal Center for Nutrition, that hot lemon is often recommended as a home drink for colds, but why is this drink so healthy?

Hot lemon is the juice of a lemon in a cup of hot water sweetened with a little honey.

The drink provides vitamin C and anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial materials, but the positive effect of vitamin C is less useful in the event of a cold, and rather has a more protective effect by supporting the immune system, according to a report in Deutsche Welle.

However, vitamin C is very sensitive to heat, so lemon juice must be filled with cold water so that more vitamin C is retained, and then the drink is heated to drinking temperature, that is, it is lukewarm water rather than hot.

Also, honey should not be heated to more than 40 degrees Celsius, in order to retain its components.

However, we must emphasize that drinking hot lemon is not a cure for a cold, influenza, or any other disease such as Corona, but rather a hydrating drink that provides the body with fluids that it has lost, especially with fever.

Rest and drink plenty of fluids

When you catch a cold, it is important that your body gets plenty of rest so that your immune system can focus fully on fighting viruses.

So it is better to stay in bed for a few days.

In addition to rest, the body needs plenty of fluids in case of a flu infection.

For a healthy adult, this means about 2 to 2.5 liters per day.

It is best to drink clear (not cold) water, herbal tea or light fruit juice, as the German health insurance company "TK" recommends in its periodical, citing the "Heal Praxis" website.

Fluids are necessary to keep the mucous membranes moist and to protect the body from dehydration.


Home remedies for cold symptoms

Some people say that a cold lasts 7 days with or even without treatment.

But many find that some treatments not only relieve individual symptoms, but also shorten the duration of symptoms.

For example, steam baths and inhalations are effective home remedies against the common cold.

A nasal rinse can also relieve a stuffy nose, and a tea mixed with thyme, sage, and anise can help relieve a cough.

We emphasize here that these are general suggestions, consult a doctor first before following any home remedy for a cold.

Foods that help you fight colds

For its part, the German magazine "Freuden", which specializes in health news, says - according to the German news agency - that there are many foods rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C, and therefore may be useful when suffering from colds.

citrus fruits

Oranges and lemons are among the foods rich in vitamins. The orange fruit contains 60 milligrams of vitamin C, and lemon juice contains about 53 grams. It is best to drink freshly squeezed oranges, and lemons with hot water sweetened with honey.

tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the foods rich in vitamin C, whether in juice form or in sauces.

pineapple

It is best to eat pineapple slices fresh as a snack, or add them to some meals.