A cold is annoying and usually comes at an inopportune time. Everyone knows the symptoms, such as a headache and sore throat, as well as a runny nose, exhaustion and tiredness. The general advice when you have a cold is rest and drink tea. But shouldn’t I also drink coffee when I have the flu, or should I rather not drink it? We clarify.
What is a cold?
An adult gets an average of two to four colds a year. Children usually catch colds more often because they can get infected quickly in kindergarten or at school. A cold is caused by viruses that are caused by different causes. If the body’s immune system is weakened, e.g. due to stress, exposure to cold or because we have contracted it from someone who is already ill, the familiar cold symptoms are triggered.
During the cold, the body is busy fighting the virus and strengthening the immune system. This results in a large loss of fluids. Household tip number one is therefore still: drink a lot!
Those affected have to compensate for the loss and therefore drink enough fluids. Hot drinks such as tea and hot lemon are particularly popular when you have a cold and help to counteract the annoying symptoms. But does coffee have the same effect as tea?
Pro – coffee with a cold
The positive properties of coffee are now well known. It increases concentration and stimulates the metabolism and our cardiovascular system. The reason for this is the caffeine contained in coffee. Medical medications that reduce fever and relieve pain also contain caffeine as an additional active ingredient. The caffeine supports the inhibition of pain and constricts the vessels. So it sounds great up to here. However, when you have a cold, your immune system is already compromised.
So it’s not necessarily advisable to top it up with our everyday coffee consumption. The fluid loss should be compensated primarily with water. Nevertheless, it has been confirmed that even with a cold, a cup of coffee or two promotes well-being. However, it can also be the case that you don’t like the coffee at all. This can definitely happen when we have a cold, because our body knows best what is good for us at that moment. And that’s rest and relaxation.
Con – coffee with a strong flu
A normal cold turns into a bad flu? Then you’d better do without coffee altogether. Grab water and tea. But beware: Black tea also contains caffeine. Better to use other types of tea. In the pharmacy there are special tea blends that help relieve flu and cold symptoms.
Home remedies: coffee with honey
From a cold to a dry cough – the recommendation here is to sweeten your coffee or espresso with a little honey. This combination is anti-inflammatory and at the same time fights the urge to cough. A study confirms this. But don’t overdo it. Consuming too much coffee can cause headaches and circulatory problems. So only enjoy in moderation.
Conclusion: coffee with a cold is allowed
You don’t have to do without your daily cup of coffee when you have a cold. Nevertheless, the same applies here: pay attention to a healthy average. Do not overdo it with coffee consumption during the cold phase to continue to protect the body. Pimp your black coffee with some honey. If you have a strong flu, you should avoid drinking coffee altogether.
