What types of tea are good for the flu?

Answer 1

Green tea would be best with some lemon added. However, because tea contains caffeine that works as a diuretic ("water pill"), only one cup should be consumed at any one sitting if you have the flu or other problems, and you should limit the total amount used in a day. Large amounts of tea should not be used when you have the flu or other problems that can cause you to become dehydrated.

There are some benefits to taking green tea with lemon when sick, it can even boost the immune system and the lemon helps your body absorb the beneficial parts of the tea as well as providing some extra vitamin C and other nutrients.

Black tea ("regular tea") is not as good for this, and it also typically has more caffeine content, so it should be avoided due to the dehydration potential.

Decaffeinated teas and herbal teas without caffeine would be better than black tea in some ways. Hot tea will provide some humid air that may make your nasal passages feel better as you sip it. Cranberry juice or apple juice warmed with lemon are other good sources of fluids that will help you feel better when sick.

Even better is mother's old remedy, chicken soup. You can buy good chicken stock at the grocery store and sip cups of it. Be sure to check the sodium (salt) content or you risk the same diuretic effects as tea. Salt-free is best. Chicken broth that is salt free (don't use the broth cubes, they have way too much salt) can also be sipped, but it will not taste as good and will have less nutrients.

Whatever you drink, as long as it has limited salt and limited caffeine, you do need to prevent dehydration with plenty of fluids and plain water should be consumed as well.

Another tried and true remedy for adults with colds and flu at bedtime, is one cup of hot water with some lemon juice, a very small amount of honey and a few tablespoons of Bourbon or other alcohol (a common ingredient in cough medicines). It helps you rest and helps control coughs. The amount of alcohol should be limited because it also has diuretic properties.

For children, you can make the same drink without the alcohol, but they will benefit most from juices, water, and chicken soup.