Emergen c hot or cold

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Tea

Tea

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Dr. Rebecca Niloff simply recommends there's nothing better for a sore throat than hot tea. The warm water will reduce swelling of the glands in your throat and an added benefit is the steam that will help to break up nose congestion. Adding a little honey not only adds sweetness but also coats the throat to help with painful swallowing.

Water

Water

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Believe it or not, Dr. Niloff recommends lots of water. Water is the number one drink that doctors recommend to help cure the common cold. A constant flushing of the system might be one of the reasons why doctors love to prescribe a healthy dose of water. Another might be that constant hydration helps aid your immune system, which is working in overdrive when you have any kind of illness. 

Coconut Water

Coconut Water

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Dietician Sheela Prakash says, "Coconut water is filled with electrolytes that can help if you're dehydrated and need fluids (which you need when you're sick)." Coconut water is also easily accessible and doesn't have the added sugar of most energy and juice drinks that are found in stores.

Orange Juice

Orange Juice

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Also recommended by Dr. Niloff is orange juice. Extremely high in vitamin C, this citrus is also an antioxidant, meaning it helps to get rid of impurities in the body. Remember to naturally squeeze your orange juice to avoid an overload of unnecessary sugars.

Tomato Juice

Tomato Juice

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Tomatoes are not only rich in antioxidants, which will help to replenish and flush your system in the height of a nasty cold, but they also contain lycopene. Lycopene not only helps to rebuild cells but it's been shown to help in the prevention of certain types of cancer.

Grapefruit Juice

Grapefruit Juice

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Prakash shares that citruses are great for colds. Grapefruit is another citrus on our list that is high in vitamin C. The juice from this fruit is helpful in staving off the common cold if you're not a fan of the old-fashioned orange juice cure. The great thing about citrus juices is that you can get the benefits of them easily — simply eat a grapefruit for your morning meal or drink a glass of fresh-squeezed juice.

Red Wine

Red Wine

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That's right — you may be getting some help from your nightly glass of red wine if you're a wine drinker with the sniffles. According to The Daily Mail, there are trace amounts of resveratrol in the drink can apparently help with dampening inflation in the nose when you're congested. 

Ginger Juice

Ginger Juice

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Fox News reports that "the anti-inflammatory gingerols and shaogals in ginger root will help to relieve a sore throat quickly, and they also kill rhinoviruses, which cause colds in the first place." Ginger can be juiced to drink on the go or put in a tea that will help to soothe the throat and sinuses.

Emergen-C

Emergen-C

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The go-to water-enhancer is recommended by nutritionist Carly Feigan, who says, "Emergen-C,, buffered vitamin C packets in different flavors [are] great to ward off a cold or sore throat." Emergen-C is a small packet that can be poured into hot water to make a tea, or cold water to create a drinkable fizzy concoction. Emergen-C has 24 nutrients, including 1,000 milligrams of immune-supporting vitamin C, seven B vitamins to enhance energy naturally, and electrolytes to refuel and replenish.

Many parents reach for Vitamin C supplements like Emergen-C at the first sign of a cold in their children. While the idea of beating back a cold with high levels of Vitamin C is enticing, it is a myth for children. Emergen-C is fine for adults, but when you see cold symptoms coming on for a child, you shouldn’t give your child under 15 an adult Emergen-C or a similar supplement.

Why You Shouldn’t Give Emergen-C to Your Child

There is no evidence to support that high levels of Vitamin C or “immune-boosting” products such as Emergen -C  help a child avoid the common cold.  These supplements may provide up to 5X the recommended intake of Vitamin C for children.

It has been shown that consistent adequate intake of Vitamin C consumed prior to the start of a cold ( from foods or a daily multivitamin ) may reduce the length of a cold in children by 14%.

Starting to include Vitamin C intake after symptoms arise does nothing to decrease the severity or duration of a cold.

What Can I Do to Prevent My Child From Getting Sick?

A balanced intake of nutrients is important to overall health and adequate intake of Vitamin C does support immune function. Instead of focusing on supplements like Emergen-C for your child, seek to provide enough Vitamin C through a balanced diet.  Citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit have high levels, as well as bell peppers, strawberries, kiwi, and broccoli.

How to Treat a Child That is Already Sick?

We know seeing your child sick is tough. You’re ready to do anything to make them feel better and your first instinct might be to take their temperature. A fever over 100 degrees can mean they have the flu or another illness, but generally, anything below that likely means it’s just a cold.

Here are 7 ways to help your child:

1. Give your child plenty of fluids and make sure they get enough rest. Rest gives the body time to process and recover. Ensuring your child drinks plenty of fluids is also important.

2. Apply a cool compress to the chest, back, or neck may feel good if the child has a temperature. It should not be so cold or applied so long that the child shivers. This can help reduce body temperature in the case of a fever or reduce overall muscle and body aches.

3. Drinking warm liquids can feel good on a sore throat, and some provide additional benefits! Chicken soup has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties which can help fight a cold.

4. Offer children age-appropriate pain medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) if they are over six months old. Other remedies like Emergen-C can be given but follow these guidelines for giving the appropriate dose.

5. Make sure that you stay away from any cold virus yourself to avoid passing it on to your kids. Take precautions this cold and flu season like washing your hands, avoiding close contact with others, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

6. Be sure to protect your children from viruses in public places, especially when their immune system is weak. According to the Boston Children’s Hospital, we should prepare for a rise of cold and flu cases in children in the post-pandemic, hybrid school world. If your child is feeling sick, keep them home to allow for maximum rest and recovery time with limited exposure to additional germs. If your child needs to venture out, practice clean health habits like hand washing and distancing.

7. Keep a humidifier handy. Dry air, especially in Colorado, can further irritate breathing passages making an uncomfortable situation worse. Keeping the air moist will make breathing more comfortable and, hopefully, lessen coughing.

The Pediatric Urgent Care of Northern Colorado

If you are a Colorado native, contact our team of experts at (970) 494-2626 or visit our website to find a location near you if you have questions about how to care for your little one or think they may need to see a professional.

Can you make Emergen

Combine your morning tea with your daily Emergen-C to add more vitamin C than 10 oranges^, other key antioxidants†, B vitamins, and electrolytes in this hot tea recipe. DIRECTIONS: In 1 large mug, let tea bags steep for 5 minutes with hot water. Add the Emergen-C into the mug.

Does Emergen

“Emergen-C is a vitamin C supplement, and there's no evidence that it benefits people with the cold or influenza or [that it] affects your propensity to get the cold or the flu,” says Amesh Adalja, MD, an infectious disease physician and a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

How do you take Emergen

We put the powder in a glass, add four to six ounces of water, let it fizz up, let it fizz down, and then drink it up. Some folks like to put the powder in a glass, add water, stir, and then drink it down.

Can you put vitamin C in hot water?

Can you put vitamin C in hot water? You can put it in hot water, but I wouldn't recommend it because it slowly dissolves the vitamin C. Instead, put the vitamin C in cold or room temperature water.