Ugh, colds are the worst. You're stuffy and runny at the same time, your head feels cloudy, and it feels like a struggle to keep your eyes open. And as we all know, there's no cure. However, there are some remedies you can try to help relieve your symptoms and by golly, one of them involves drinking whiskey. (Because there is a God.)
Unsplash | Mathew Schwartz
Whiskey Can Help Cure Your Cold, So Start Perfecting Your Hot Toddy Recipe Now
The magic medicine comes in the form of a Hot Toddy.
As it turns out, that weird boozy mixture your grandma used to cook up actually has legitimate power behind it. So, try this recipe next time you're under the weather.
Doctors agree that the drink's mix of alcohol, honey, hot water, and lemon is beneficial for cold sufferers.
The hot water in the drink helps relieve nasal congestion, just like mom's chicken soup, while the honey and lemon are classic soothing ingredients. But the star of the show, whiskey, could offer the most relief.
It works on your mucus membranes.
Unsplash | Mathew Schwartz
"The alcohol dilates blood vessels a little bit, and that makes it easier for your mucus membranes to deal with the infection," Dr. William Schaffner, chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told ABC News.
There's one catch, though: you need to limit your consumption to one drink.
Before you start downing Hot Toddies by the gallon, however, Dr. Schaffner says to limit your consumption and focus on more hydrating, and non-alcoholic, liquids, like water and low-sugar fruit juices. This is because alcohol is a diuretic that will dehydrate your body, and when you have a cold, hydration is key.
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