Coffee & The Common Cold

You may have noticed that I had very little to do, in front of the scenes, on this week's Mornin' Grind. Why? Because I've been very under the weather with a nasty spring cold. I lost my voice, so couldn't even add that to the segment. So, it's a very Mallie-less, episode.

So, in order to be part of the Grind this week, I'm here writing my weekly blog. And I couldn't think of a better subject right now than coffee and the common cold. Right now many of us are suffering with colds or allergies, and avid coffee drinkers might be wondering how their morning cup of joe works alongside the sniffles and sneezes.

There's some debate over the good or bad effect of coffee on those suffering with a cold. The Mayo Clinic advises us to stay away from "alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which make dehydration worse."

While caffeine in and of itself is a diuretic, which will cause you to feel dehydrated if you are not taking in enough fluid, there are also some properties in coffee that can aid you in your struggle against the common cold.

Caffeine is an ingredient in several pain medications, and the caffeine in your coffee works no differently. Just as a jolt of coffee can sometimes aid in easing a budding headache, it can do the same for the minor aches and pains that often come with a cold. Also, whenever I have a sore throat, which often accompanies a cold, warm liquids, in general, ease my discomfort.

Use your best judgment when deciding whether or not to indulge in a cup of coffee when you have a cold. Remember that the caffeine in coffee can be dehydrating, so you'll need to ensure you're getting in plenty of fluids (which you should do whether or not you drink coffee when you a cold). But also remember this...if a cup of coffee in the morning makes you feel better in general, it just might make you feel a little bit better when you're feeling under the weather.

Here's hoping I'll be back up to snuff for next week's segment.

Mallie