Cold and cough are very common during winters or when the seasons are changing. While there are medicines available, home remedies are simpler and have almost no side effects. There are many traditional Indian recipes for drinks that are known to cure a cold and cough and help reduce the risk of further infections. You can store a soothing drink in an insulated tumbler and sip it during the day. Listed below are some of the best recipes to try when you have a cold or cough. Although these concoctions might provide temporary relief from sore throat and other symptoms, you might have to consult your physician in order to feel better and treat your health condition.
Which Are The Most Soothing Indian Drinks To Have During Cold And Cough?
1. Lime Juice With Cinnamon And Honey
This age-old concoction is simple and is great when you have a sore throat. All you need to do is squeeze some fresh lemon juice into a tumbler or glass of water, add a pinch of cinnamon and a spoonful of honey for sweetness. If you are unable to drink water at a normal temperature, then you can make this drink with lukewarm water. This drink is packed with antioxidants that help to repair damaged immune cells and it is antibacterial as well as antiviral.
2. Golden Milk
Golden milk or warm milk with turmeric is a traditional Indian drink that is used as a cure for cold, cough, and other bacterial infections. You can heat some milk and add a teaspoon of turmeric. Golden milk is usually made without sugar but if you want it to be sweet you can add some honey. Pour the milk in an insulated water bottle to keep it warm and sip on it, especially before bedtime.
3. Fresh Pineapple Juice
Sometimes during a cold or cough, you might not want to drink thick broths or brews. Fresh fruit juices with no artificial sweeteners can feel refreshing. Pineapple is one of the best fruits to have, especially when you have a cold during a change in the season. It is a source of the enzyme bromelain and is therefore anti-inflammatory. Keep fresh pineapple juice in a stainless steel water bottle and take small sips throughout the day. The juice will soothe your throat, reduce congestion by expelling mucus and stop severe coughs.
4. Thickened Sweet And Spicy Milk
A warm drink before you go to bed at night can help you sleep better even when you have a bad cold. This Indian drink is made by combining roasted chickpea flour, ghee, milk, sugar, or jaggery and spices like black pepper, turmeric, and cardamom. The chickpea flour thickens the milk and the spices have antibacterial properties. You can prepare this delicious drink before dinner and pour it in an insulated tumbler to have it before bed. It will help to reduce the congestion overnight and you will also feel rather rejuvenated.
5. Ginger Tea
Drinks with anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties are recommended during a cold and cough. Ginger tea is not only easy to make, but it is also one of the best. Ginger is known to relieve cold and cough because of the bioactive compounds in it. These phytonutrients, gingerols, and shogaols reduce the risk of viral infections and can help prevent severe cold and cough. To make ginger tea you can choose any tea you like and add a few slices of fresh ginger to the brew. Do not let it go cold and try to drink it every day, preferably in the morning, slowly sipping from an insulated tumbler.
6. Savoury Rasam
Most of the drinks that are effective in curing colds are sweet or sour. But this South Indian drink is savory and can also be treated as a proper dish. To make rasam, you will have to cook a watery curry with tomatoes, tamarind extract, green chilies, and curry leaves. The rasam is then flavored with stir-fried mustard seeds, coriander leaves, cumin, and dried chilies. You can serve this broth-like drink in any drinkware of your choice or even have it with rice. The curry leaves in rasam clear the congestion from the respiratory tract and the warmth of the drink is soothing for sore throats.
7. Black Tea
If you are looking for a warm beverage to sip on when you have a cold then black tea is a great choice. Black tea is rich in antioxidants and it is particularly effective if you have been suffering from a cold for a long time. Black tea, without any sugar, will also reduce coughing. You can drink black tea at any time of the day and you can also flavor it with some spices like cardamom, cloves, and ginger.
8. Gooseberry And Mint Juice
Gooseberries contain Vitamin C and polyphenols that can help to fight bacterial infections. Gooseberry juice is made by making a paste of some fresh gooseberries, salt, and black pepper and then stirring that paste in a glass of water. Now, this might taste sour and not very pleasant. So you can add some honey to the juice. If you are unable to drink the whole glass at once, pour the gooseberry juice in a stainless steel water bottle and take small sips of it throughout the day.
9. Green Tea With Saffron, Almonds, And Honey
Green tea is considered to be one the best teas to cure a cold and cough. It clears the respiratory tract of harmful bacteria and reduces congestion. Drinking green tea regularly can also reduce the risk of infections and illnesses like the flu. Green tea contains antioxidants like quercetin and so it is effective in curing viral infections. When you are down with a cold, you can brew green tea and flavor it with saffron, some crushed almonds, and a dash of honey.
10. Warm, Spiced Buttermilk
If you have a severe cough, you will want something that is going to soothe your throat. During a cold, you might find most foods and drinks tasteless. This is why buttermilk is a great drink. Buttermilk can be flavored with spices like turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves to add more flavor and to also make it antibacterial. The consistency of buttermilk is usually thick, but you can serve it in an insulated tumbler.
Final Words
Before making a drink for yourself, check if all the ingredients suit you. Avoid recipes that contain ingredients you are allergic to. Once you find the perfect drink for your sore throat, pour it in an insulated water bottle and drink it as many times as possible. The bottle will retain the right temperature of the drink and all the nutrients and flavors will be conserved. Also, make sure you discuss with your physician and get theri go ahead before you start making a habit of drinking any of these drinks.