Can You Drink Coffee When Sick With A Common Cold?

No one wants to get sick. Probably you are like me when under the weather with a common cold; you don’t want to get out of bed, you feel lazy with no energy, and life almost comes to a standstill! The worst of all, you are conflicted on whether to drink coffee or not.

The question coffee lovers ask time and again, is whether one should drink coffee when sick with a common cold.

The answer will has some bad news and good news, and I like to start with the bad news!

Now the bad news is that caffeine can be dehydrating, yet the general rule for overcoming a common cold is to keep the body hydrated to replace lost fluids and help the body thin mucus. In addition, consuming the caffeine in coffee a few hours before bed time can negatively impact your ability to get sleep. When under the weather, doctors recommend getting enough rest.

The short answer is yes but you should drink water too. Learn more here.

The good news about drinking coffee when sick is that it has properties that can get you up and running. A study done by psychologists at the University of Bristol, concluded that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee had a positive effect on common cold symptoms. In the study, 46 people with colds were given either caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee, or fruit juice. The study participants who had caffeinated coffee reported increased alertness and performance that was the same as a group of non-sick subjects.

Well, there you go! When under the weather, drink water to stay hydrated, and get your cup of coffee!