It’s that time of year where cold and flu seem to be frequent companions.
There’s no real cure for the common cold, of course, most of us simply just put up with it and sniffle our way through the day. It turns around though – and this is the good part – a little bit of whiskey or bourbon could actually offer relief.
The classic hot toddy – consisting of whiskey, honey, lemon juice and hot water – apparently goes some way to waging a war on pesky colds. The hot water helps to relieve nasal congestion, and the other ingredients have strengths of their own …
The whiskey (our personal favorite) apparently opens blood vessels which makes it easier for your system to handle the infection.
As Dr. William Schaffner, chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explained to ABC News: “And the whiskey helps with sniffle issues, too. “The alcohol dilates blood vessels a little bit, and that makes it easier for your mucus membranes to deal with the infection.”
Something to remember
Of course, there is a (slight) catch. Drinking too much whiskey is likely to do anything but make you feel better. Alcohol actually draws fluid from the body, causing you to become dehydrated and in the end feel worse than you did anyway.
So, our advice? If you are going to use whiskey to alleviate your cold symptoms, make sure you drink plenty of other (non alcohol-based) fluids as well.
It’s our opinion that a little bit of whiskey never hurt anyone.
If you agree, share this article and let your family and friends know!
