Is hot chocolate good for a sore throat?

Drinking beverages like hot chocolate, tea, or coffee that have a heating effect can help you feel better because they stimulate blood flow to your mucous membranes and temporarily relieve pain and swelling.

That’s why hot drinks like tea and coffee can be soothing for a while. One study shows that hot liquids can reduce or suppress discomfort caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Another study found that drinking cold water might actually enhance GERD in some sufferers.

It can be a very comforting idea to have a hot cup of chocolate when you have a sore throat. But, does it actually work? Let’s find out what science has to say about this topic.

Let’s discuss the details of whether hot chocolate is really good for our sore throat or not.

What is a sore throat?

Sore throat is a contagious disease that is caused by viruses or bacteria that are normally found in the throat.

Most sore throats are caused by viral infections, which usually get better on their own within a few days without treatment.

Sore throat symptoms include pain, swelling, redness of the throat, and sometimes low-grade fever or chills. A  sore throat often accompanies typical upper respiratory symptoms such as

coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion. Strep throat infection is one of the most common bacterial causes of sore throat

and is treatable with antibiotics. Tonsillitis refers to infection of the lymphatic tissues that are next to each side of your tonsils

Is Hot Chocolate Good for a Sore Throat?

To answer the question of whether hot chocolate would help you feel better when you have a sore throat, let’s look at what makes up this drink. 

The first thing to note is that it’s not always a good idea to have chocolate when you are sick. Milk products don’t always sit well on an already upset stomach, so there can be some risks that come with having milk or any dairy products, depending on how sensitive your stomach tends to be.

Hot Chocolate’s positive side on sore throat

A 2013 study revealed that cocoa can soothe sore throats.

If you have a sore throat, try a cup of hot chocolate with some honey and milk to soothe it. The cup of hot chocolate may contain antioxidants in its raw form which help reduce inflammation and irritation in the throat.

According to a new study from the University of Taipei and the University of Granada, cocoa contains antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and irritation in sore throats.

The study involved making 100 people drink hot chocolate or water for five days. They had throat examinations before the experiment began and after it ended. According to the results, those who drank cocoa showed reduced signs of inflammation while those who drank only water were found to have worsened inflammation.

The researchers believe that antioxidant compounds found in cocoa protect cells from damage, which is the body’s usual response to irritation and inflammation.

Although more research is needed to back up these initial findings, this study indicates cocoa may be a good way to prevent infections caused by sore throats.

Hot Chocolate’s Negative side on sore throat

It has caffeine and sugar which could potentially make you feel worse if your body doesn’t react well to caffeine or sugar right now. 

It also contains cocoa butter which provides essential fatty acids our bodies need to keep us healthy. 

Because of all the butter in it, chocolate is a common food allergy for many people, so you shouldn’t have it if you know your body doesn’t handle it well. it also contains histamine which leads to allergy effects in some people.

Sugary drinks like hot cocoa may not be great for your teeth. So, does hot chocolate help with a sore throat? Well… at best, probably not much. 

What to do instead of drinking Hot chocolate with a sore throat?

If chocolate doesn’t seem like the perfect thing for you when you have a sore throat, then consider other ways to make yourself feel better during this tough time.  

It might seem counterintuitive but drinking water can actually help ease some symptoms of illness because it encourages mucus drainage which will help your throat feel more comfortable.

Another great way to feel better is by getting lots of sleep.  Your body needs time to recover from illness even if it doesn’t always want to take that rest period, so

Will we take Hot chocolate for sore throat?

So is there any scientific evidence behind the assertion that hot chocolate helps with sore throats? Well…in short – not much. 

There are several articles published on the Internet (and tons of natural health websites) asserting such claims, but no hard evidence exists to suggest that hot chocolate will help you recover from your sore throat faster. 

If anything, cocoa powder contains antioxidants and stubborn demulcent properties which could ease one or two symptoms; however, these benefits are limited to the short period of time you are actually drinking it. 

A cup or two will help desensitize aggravated nerves in the throat which can provide some immediate relief, but hot chocolate won’t cure your sore throat on its own.

There’s no strong scientific evidence to suggest that it works better than cold water, tea, or pretty much any other drink out there. 

However, if you feel like having something warm and sweet on your way to recovery – go ahead! At least you’ll get more calories into yourself (and perhaps some added nutritional value). That’s always good. 

However, it isn’t advisable for those who are allergic or sensitive to cocoa or caffeine since cocoa contains both substances. Also, chocolate doesn’t necessarily produce the same results as hot chocolate because of differences in preparation.

For instance, milk and honey can alter the effects of cocoa depending on how they’re prepared and processed. They sometimes even ensure that caffeine isn’t released into your system as quickly due to their high sugar content (which slows the rate of absorption), leading to you feeling pleasant for a longer period of time.

This is why cocoa isn’t as effective when used alone, which means it’s best to use hot chocolate in that case instead.