What to drink when having a sore throat

When you have a sore throat, sometimes all you can think about is how to relieve the pain. Eating and drinking may be uncomfortable to the point where you want to avoid it entirely. The problem is, drinking plenty of fluids and getting essential vitamins and nutrients are both important steps to maintaining your everyday health and reducing your chance of illness.1 If you’re experiencing a sore throat, it’s essential to choose foods and drinks that will hydrate and nourish your body without irritating your throat. Luckily, there are several options that can calm your throat and help maintain your appetite.

To help you keep up your fluids and a nutritious diet when you’re suffering with a sore throat, we’ve put together a list of the best drinks and foods to help soothe a sore throat.

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It can be difficult to get rid of a sore throat. However, drinking the right fluids may be all you need to relieve the scratchy, painful feeling. Here are some of the best drinks to soothe your sore throat: 

1. Sip warm water with lemon and honey 

Any warm beverage can help soothe a sore throat. "Hot water on its own is soothing and can help provide relief for sore throat, cough, and runny nose," says Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian in the New York City area. 

Drinking warm lemon water may be especially useful when you have a sore throat due to an illness, as it can add a small extra dose of vitamin C to your diet. Vitamin C can boost your immune system and may even help you overcome colds. 

Adding honey to your lemon water may also treat a sore throat and cough. For example, a small 2017 study found that honey can help speed up the recovery of a sore throat due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. 

2. Try ginger tea 

Ginger tea may also help soothe a sore throat. In fact, a 2013 study indicated that a hot water extract of fresh ginger might help protect you from the respiratory syncytial virus — a highly infectious virus that commonly affects young children — though more robust human studies are still needed. 

"Drinking ginger tea can be beneficial if you're not feeling well," says Gorin. "There's some evidence to show that it can help soothe a sore throat and reduce congestion, but more research needs to be conducted." 

3. Drink chamomile tea 

If you're not a fan of ginger tea, you may want to opt for chamomile tea, which is made from dried Matricaria flowers. According to Amber Robins, MD, a board-certified family medicine doctor and lifestyle medicine strategist at Camillia Wellness in Maryland, chamomile tea can reduce inflammation in the throat. 

Plus, chamomile tea can promote relaxation and help you sleep, which can boost your immune system and help you better recover from illness. People who don't get an adequate amount of sleep may be more likely to get a common cold or other infections. 

"As with any warm beverage, your discomfort can be soothed as the steam helps with decongestion," says Taylor Schomaker, RDN, a registered dietitian and owner of Enlightened Nutrition LLC, a nutrition coaching practice based in Michigan. "Chamomile tea is naturally caffeine-free, and some research suggests that chamomile, itself, may help promote sleep and relaxation in the brain." 

4. Have peppermint tea

Peppermint tea is another warm beverage that people often turn to when trying to ease sore throat symptoms. This is because it contains spearmint, which has anti-inflammatory effects that can reduce swelling and soothe a sore throat. 

Plus, as with any hot beverage, Robins notes that inhaling the steam from peppermint tea can treat other symptoms like congestion. 

"Similar to steam from a vaporizer or shower, the steam from peppermint tea can help decrease nasal congestion," Robins says. "This gives you the feeling that you can breathe better." 

5. Eat warm soup

Chicken noodle soup is a classic home remedy for common illnesses, and it offers many of the same benefits as hot teas or warm lemon water. 

In fact, any kind of warm soup — especially one with healthy protein or vegetables — can be a great way to soothe your sore throat and get some key nutrients when you're feeling sick. 

"Broth-based soups are a great way to get a little nutrition into you when you don't feel like eating when you're sick," Gorin says. "I'd go with a soup that has additional ingredients, such as chicken breast, tofu, beans, or veggies." 

6. Make a smoothie 

When you're sick, you might experience a decreased appetite, says Schomaker. This can make it more difficult to get all the nutrients your body needs to fight off an illness. 

That's why a nutrient-packed smoothie makes a great option, as long as you use fruits and vegetables loaded with antioxidants — molecules that may boost our immune system. 

Some antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to add to your smoothies include: 

  • Blueberries
  • Strawberries
  • Mangoes
  • Kale
  • Spinach 

The bottom line 

Sore throats are common, especially during cold and flu season. Therefore, finding ways to soothe your throat at home while providing your body with the nutrients it needs to fight an infection is important. Some great drink options for sore throats include hot tea or broth, warm water with lemon and honey, or antioxidant-rich smoothies.

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Ashley Lyles

Ashley Lyles is a graduate of New York University's Science, Health & Environmental Reporting Program. She was the 2017 recipient of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation's Jason Kahn Fellowship in Medical Journalism. Her work has taken her to Honduras, Cambodia, France, and Ghana and has appeared in outlets like 

How do I get rid of a sore throat quickly?

Lifestyle and home remedies.
Rest. Get plenty of sleep. ... .
Drink fluids. Fluids keep the throat moist and prevent dehydration. ... .
Try comforting foods and beverage. ... .
Gargle with saltwater. ... .
Humidify the air. ... .
Consider lozenges or hard candy. ... .
Avoid irritants. ... .
Stay at home until you're no longer sick..

What drinks make a sore throat worse?

Alcohol and caffeinated drinks like coffee are diuretics, meaning that they can potentially dehydrate you. As a result, your throat may become irritated and eventually sore. Consider abstaining from these drinks or opting for drinks with a lower alcohol or caffeine content.