There are plenty of at-home remedies that claim to help with a cold, from eating a garlic clove to gargling salt water. One of the most popular — and tastiest — is drinking orange juice. And it makes a lot of sense; orange juice is packed with vitamin C, a proven immune booster.
But does it actually help clear a cold?
“Research shows that taking a [vitamin C] supplement regularly can help to ward off cold symptoms, but taking it after you have a cold already does not shorten the duration,” explained Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, a registered dietitian, to Health.
Moreover, the citric acid in orange juice can actually make things worse.
“It contains citric acid, which irritates the lining of your already-inflamed throat,” said Taz Bhatia, MD, a professor of integrative medicine at Emory University and author of What Doctors Eat.
Instead of orange juice, consider liquids that can help sooth a sore throat, including:
- Decaf Tea
- Water with lemon
- Soup
- Ice chips or ice pops
WebMD also suggests avoiding sports drinks, coffee, ginger ale and alcohol when you have a cold.
About the Author
