We all hate it when our throats get sore. And it’s justified because it makes life dull and frustrating. We can’t eat or drink without feeling a painful sensation. Also, cold drinks and spicy food are prohibited in this situation.
To deal with this, there are different natural cures available online, but the one that is most discussed is whether lemonade is good for a sore throat or not. So, can you drink it or not?
Yes, lemonade is good for a sore throat if you make it right. It can get rid of irritation, deal with infection, and make your immunity stronger. However, if you don’t make it as health experts recommend, you will end up hurting yourself even more, and your sore throat will get worse.
If you want to know more about lemonade effects and the best recipe to make it, then stay till the end.
Why Is Lemonade Good for a Sore Throat? Explaining The Reasons
Lemonade is one of the best natural drinks humans have made yet. It is a great source of vitamins (especially Vitamin C) and other beneficial agents that really help the body in so many ways.
When it comes to sore throat, lemonade does the following things:
Breaks Mucous
Lemonade is excellent for treating sore throat because it breaks up the irritating mucous layer on the inner side of the throat and sinuses. This is important because mucus dripping from the nasal can worsen sore throat even more.
It is this mucous layer that makes swallowing the food difficult. Also, it causes itching in the throat, which also leads to coughing. So, getting rid of it is super important.
Thankfully, the healing properties of lemon provide relief in dealing with all of this.
Makes Immunity Stronger
Another way lemonade treats sore throat is by strengthening immunity. The vitamin C in lemon juice has supreme health significance because it makes the immunity strong and protects the body from any infection.
How?
By increasing phagocytosis, increasing microbial killings, and reducing oxidative stress.
A sore throat can also be due to the infection. The vitamin C in the lemonade can effectively get rid of it, thus, providing you relief.
Not only this, but drinking lemonade can further protect the sore throat from happening again in the future.
Lubricate The Dry Throat
Sometimes, the infection can cause the sore throat to get dry. This also causes severe coughing and painful sensations.
Drinking a glass of lemonade can lubricate the area and provide relief from these problems.
Makes You Hydrated
If you want your body to fight off harmful bacteria and viruses, you have to keep it hydrated.
Why?
It is because water can flush all of these “invaders” out of the body, which suppresses their effects. Also, a dehydrated body has a higher chance of getting affected by germs than a hydrated one.
And the best way to hydrate after drinking simple water is? Yep, it is lemonade.
Drinking lemonade is one of the best ways to hydrate your body. It can recharge the electrolytes and stimulates saliva production.
Virus and Bacteria Hate Acidity
That virus and bacteria that cause sore threat hate the acidic environment. Thus, drinking lemonade can get rid of them quickly.
But you have to be careful with the amount of lemon juice you are adding to the water to make lemonade. I will tell you the side effects of over-adding later.
First, have a look at the best recipe to get relief from sore throat fast.
Best Lemonade Recipe For Sore Throat
Some people just squeeze one or two lemons in a glass of water and just start drinking it. That’s the wrong approach.
To deal with viruses or bacteria, you have to make a powerful lemonade. Lemon juice alone can’t deal with this. That’s why you will need one more ingredient to make a perfect lemonade.
What is it? It’s honey!
To make an effective lemonade recipe, you will need:
- Two lemons
- 8 ounces of water
- One tbsp of honey
Have these? Then do the following:
- Start by pouring the water into a jug. Make sure it is lukewarm.
- Next, add the lemon juice you have extracted from two medium-sized lemons.
- Lastly, add one tbsp honey and mix it completely.
Another way to make this is by:
- Add water to a pot and put it on the stove. Next, add both lemon juice and honey at once before you proceed.
- After that, turn the stove on and let the water get heated (not boiled).
- When you see some steam after a few minutes, turn the stove off.
- Let the lemonade cool a little. You should also stir it thoroughly to help with the cooling. That’s how you make the perfect lemonade to deal with a sore throat.
- When the drink is lukewarm, drink it slowly to get relief from a sore throat.
The preparation time of this lemonade recipe is just five to six minutes. Then, you will need about four to five minutes to cool the drink down. Don’t put it in the refrigerator for cooling. Just leave it on your table, keep stirring, and then check after five minutes to see if it is lukewarm or not.
You have read about the benefits of lemonade for sore throat above. In this recipe, I added honey because it makes the drink extremely powerful and effective. Here’s how!
Honey has antibacterial properties that are super effective in dealing with a sore throat. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory properties of honey will also cure coughing. It is also antiviral, making it a perfect ingredient to be added to lemonade. Therefore, honey is always there whenever you are reading about any homemade natural remedy for any health problem or disease.
This recipe has always worked for me, and it will work for you too!
Is Store Bought Lemonade Also Good For Sore Throat?
No, store-bought lemonade is not good for your health, especially for your sore throat. It is made with added preservatives or additives that do not provide a positive impact on health in any way. Besides, there might be some more ingredients in such drinks which you will not be aware of. So, it is always better to make anything at home.
Now, let me briefly describe the precautions you should be following during the recipe in order for lemonade to deal with sore throat properly.
What Not To Do While Making a Lemonade?
True, lemonade is a perfect natural drink that can lead to a lot of benefits for health. But a slight mistake with it can reduce its effectiveness. But still, it won’t harm health.
However, if you do the following, your sore throat condition will get worse:
Don’t Add Too Much Lemon
Nutritionists recommend people not get over excited while squeezing lemons. Adding more lemon juice can negatively affect the throat as it is high in acidity. Too much acid irritates the skin and causes pain as well.
So, if you are not careful, your sore throat might get worse.
Don’t Use Cold Water
Lemonade is only effective for a sore throat if you use warm water. Adding cold water can worsen the problem and give you more trouble.
Don’t Overdrink
Experts recommend that you should not drink more than two glasses of lemonade in a day. However, if the day is extremely hot, you can drink the third glass as well. But that’s it.
Overdrinking can lead to high acidic levels in the stomach. If you keep drinking more, you might get Acid reflux.
Consult A Doctor If Lemonade Doesn’t Help
If your sore throat doesn’t get better after drinking lemonade, then you should consult your doctor.
I suggest you keep drinking lemonade for at least three days to see any effect. If nothing happens, then a proper check-up should be your priority.
Also, stop drinking lemonade and immediately go to the doctor if you start facing these symptoms
- High fever
- Difficulty in breathing
- Red eyes
- Extreme pain in the throat
- Yellow patches on the throat or neck region
These symptoms are the indication that the problem is bigger than dealing with a sore throat only.
Final Words
So, is lemonade good for sore throat?
Absolutely Yes, lemonade is a natural remedy that has been used by humans to deal with lots of health problems, including sore throat. This drink is high in vitamin C, antioxidants, and antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties; all of these are needed to fight off any infection.
Moreover, lemonade also breaks the mucous layer on the inner side of the throat and sinuses. This helps in better swallowing of food and no irritation. Plus, honey is also added to lemonade, which gives relief from coughing.
However, don’t use cold water, don’t overdrink it, and don’t add too much lemon juice if you want to feel the positive effects only!