In winter, it is easy to catch a cold when the temperature drops. Once you catch a cold, the comforting and caring words that everyone hears are mostly the same: drink plenty of hot water, drink ginger soup, drink chicken soup, and eat more vitamin C... Although the experts are in the folk, are these "cold remedies" really effective?
1. Drinking hot water can boost immunity
Water is an important component of human cells, accounting for 70%-80% of body weight. All substance metabolism in the body takes place in a water environment. When you have a cold, your body will fight against the virus by raising your body temperature, causing a large amount of water loss. Drinking hot water can replenish the body's water, promote metabolism, and improve immunity, thereby alleviating the cold. Choosing electrolyte beverages when you have a cold can quickly hydrate and improve the body's electrolyte balance, which is even more effective.
In addition, the skin is the body's first defense barrier, and the second barrier is the upper respiratory tract mucosa. If the body lacks water, the antiviral ability of the mucosa will decrease due to dehydration, allowing oral bacteria to enter. Therefore, drinking water can also enhance the mucosa's ability to resist viruses.
2. Drinking chicken soup can hydrate the body
Drinking chicken soup to fight colds has indeed been a secret remedy for thousands of years. From a nutritional standpoint, drinking chicken soup first and foremost hydrates the body and to some extent improves the body's immunity. Of course, chicken soup also contains a small amount of amino acids and proteins, which can supplement nutrition and further enhance immunity, alleviating the cold.
3. Ginger soup can dispel wind-cold
For wind-cold colds, if you take ginger at the early stage of a cold, it can dispel wind-cold. After drinking ginger soup, the body will feel warm, sweat, and the nose will also be unblocked. This is the manifestation of the warming and dispelling cold effect of ginger.
From the perspective of modern nutrition, ginger contains curcumin, which has antioxidant properties and makes the body less prone to inflammation, thereby improving immunity and fighting colds. Ginger soup can replenish water, supplement antioxidants, and dispel cold, achieving both internal and external treatment.
4. Vitamin C enhances resistance
Many people believe that vitamin C can prevent and treat colds, but there is currently no conclusive evidence that vitamin C is definitely beneficial for treating colds. However, vitamin C is an antioxidant. Taking vitamin C can indeed alleviate the damage of inflammation to blood vessels and skin and improve the body's resistance.
