4 Best Drinks When You're Sick With a Cold or Flu

Dehydration can worsen cold and flu symptoms, making you feel even worse. This is because fever, coughing, and sweating can deplete your body's fluids. This is why drinking plenty of fluids helps treat colds and flu. And drinking the right fluids is your key to a speedy recovery.

We explore the best drinks for when you're sick. From trusty go-to's like ginger ale and to more innovative solutions like electrolytes and structured water.

Best Drinks When You’re Sick

» Learn how to choose the healthiest types of water to drink

Why Staying Hydrated is Essential During Colds and Flu

When we're sick, our bodies are working hard to fight off the virus. Dehydration can make this process more difficult, leading to a longer recovery time and worsening symptoms like fatigue, congestion, and headaches.

These are usually worsened by illness since you usually don't feel like eating or drinking anything. Here's how staying hydrated helps:

• Thins mucus: Adequate fluid intake helps thin mucus in the respiratory passages, making it easier to expel—reducing congestion and coughing.
• Combats fever: Sweating is a natural way for your body to regulate temperature. Fluids help you sweat effectively, lowering your body temperature and reducing fever.
• Boosts energy levels: Dehydration can lead to fatigue and sluggishness. Drinking plenty of fluids helps maintain energy levels and keeps you feeling your best.

» Discover the best water types to drink to recover from dehydration

4 Best Drinks That Help You When You’re Sick

Water is the foundation of hydration, and even more crucial when you're sick. It helps soothe a lot of cold and flu symptoms while improving breathing. Aim to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, even if you don't feel particularly thirsty.

To enhance your cellular hydration deeper, you can use the Mayu Swirl, which restructures and aerates water back to a pure state with no chemicals, making it healthier than tap and bottled waters.

Ginger ale is good for a cold because ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that can provide relief for sore throats and congestion. Additionally, the combination of ginger and carbonation—typical in ginger ales—can help alleviate an upset stomach and reduce feelings of nausea.



To make ginger ale even more potent against the flu, you can add honey and lemon to help soothe a sore throat.

It's best to opt for ginger ale with natural ingredients such as fresh ginger juice or real ginger extract, low sugar content, and no artificial sweeteners. This is because these sweeteners can aggravate symptoms like diarrhea.

» Explore how to stay hydrated when you're sick

Natural juices are also great options to help with fluid intake, and among them is lemonade. You may wonder, "Is lemonade good for the flu?". The answer is yes!



Lemonades are abundant in citric acid, vitamin C, and polyphenols, which can boost immunity and provide relief from fatigue and cold-like symptoms, such as headaches. Regular lemonade consumption can accelerate your recovery process.

Additionally, drinking lemonade can reduce flu-related nausea because of the neutralizing citric acid it contains.

» Need more options? Check out these caffeine-free alternatives to energy drinks

When battling the flu or a cold, your body loses alot of essential electrolytes. Research shows that electrolyte water, or electrolyte drinks like Gatorade, can restore hydration levels faster than traditional water. Electrolyte water helps maintain optimal bodily functions, even during illnesses like flu or a stomach virus.

However, Gatorade contains a high sugar content, so may not be suitable for individuals with certain dietary restrictions or health conditions, like diabetes.

» Check out ways to add electrolytes to drinking water for max hydration

Accelerate Your Recovery With Healthy Beverages

By choosing beverages that keep your body hydrated, you can alleviate the discomfort caused by the flu and boost your immune system for a speedy recovery. From structured water with the MAYU Swirl to electrolyte-enhancing drops, you can balance your fluid levels to help you feel better during illness.