When you have the flu, drinking a hot or warm drink mixed with lemon and honey can be a useful remedy because the vitamin C content can shorten the duration of the flu.
“Warm fluids, honey, and a little lemon can be very therapeutic in fighting respiratory infections,” said Jesse Bracamonte, a family physician at the Mayo Clinic based in Phoenix, Arizona, as reported by The Guardian on Tuesday.
Bracamonte said that warm drinks containing vitamin C are often consumed as a remedy for flu, but it is not recommended to mix them with liquids containing alcohol.
He explained that although drinking alcohol can have a relaxing effect, consuming alcohol while sick can also make the body too sedative (a substance that depresses the central nervous system), especially if you are taking cold and cough medicines that cause drowsiness, said Bracamonte.
The potential for alcohol and drug interactions should also be considered in patients over 65 years of age due to their slowed metabolism.
“Combining alcohol with sedative medications can increase risks including falls and overdose, as well as change the way you metabolize prescription medications,” he said.
Alcohol can also weaken the immune system and slow healing, Bracamonte said. Furthermore, drinking alcohol can cause dehydration, which worsens symptoms, and lower blood sugar levels if consumed on an empty stomach.
