What's the Best Drink for Feeling Sick? Your Ultimate Hydration Guide

December 2, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the Mayo Clinic, drinking plenty of fluids is a critical step in managing symptoms of a cold or flu, and dehydration can worsen your condition. So, what's the best drink for feeling sick? The answer depends on your symptoms, but staying hydrated is always key to supporting your body's immune response.

Quick Summary

This guide explores the ideal beverages for relieving common illness symptoms like fever, nausea, sore throat, and congestion. It provides practical recommendations, a comparison table, and an overview of what to drink and what to avoid to aid recovery.

Key Points

Prioritize Hydration: Water is the most crucial drink for combating dehydration caused by fever, sweating, and vomiting.
Soothe a Sore Throat: Warm liquids like broth or honey and lemon tea can provide relief by coating and soothing irritated tissues.
Combat Nausea: Ginger or peppermint tea are natural remedies known to help settle an upset stomach.
Replenish Electrolytes: For significant fluid loss from vomiting, diarrhea, or fever, an electrolyte-rich drink can help restore mineral balance.
Avoid Dehydrating Beverages: Stay away from caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and excessive sugar, which can all worsen dehydration.
Listen to Your Body: What works best depends on your specific symptoms, so choose drinks that feel comforting and don’t aggravate your stomach.
Know When to Seek Medical Help: For severe dehydration or persistent, worsening symptoms, a healthcare provider should be consulted.

Why Hydration is Your Best Friend When You're Sick

When you're ill, your body loses fluids at a faster rate due to fever, sweating, and increased mucus production. Hydration is essential for keeping bodily functions running smoothly, helping to thin mucus, and preventing fatigue and dizziness. Choosing the right fluids can directly address your specific symptoms and provide much-needed comfort.

The Top Contenders: Best Drinks for Illness

Water: The Gold Standard

Water is the purest and most effective way to rehydrate, making it the primary and most essential beverage when you're sick. It's free of sugar and caffeine, ensuring you're only replenishing fluids and not consuming ingredients that can cause further dehydration or inflammation. Drinking small, frequent sips is often best, especially if you feel nauseated.

Warm Broth or Soup

Chicken soup isn't just a comfort food; it provides hydration, electrolytes, and protein, and studies have shown it can help reduce inflammation. The warmth of the broth can be soothing for a sore throat and can help clear nasal congestion by increasing mucus flow. Options like clear vegetable or miso broth are also excellent alternatives.

Herbal Teas

Many herbal teas offer soothing benefits depending on the ailment. For nausea, ginger or peppermint tea can be particularly effective. For a sore throat, a warm tea with honey and lemon can coat and soothe the irritated tissue. Herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free, making them a better choice than black tea or coffee, which can be dehydrating.

Electrolyte-Rich Drinks

When fever, vomiting, or diarrhea lead to significant fluid loss, electrolyte drinks can be beneficial for restoring lost sodium, potassium, and magnesium. While sports drinks are an option, they can be high in sugar. Many health experts recommend diluting them with water or opting for lower-sugar alternatives. For infants and young children, a doctor-recommended solution like Pedialyte may be necessary to prevent dehydration.

Lemon and Honey Water

This classic remedy is simple but effective. Warm water with honey acts as a demulcent, coating the throat and easing soreness, while lemon provides a boost of vitamin C. It's a great option for a cough or scratchy throat.

What to Avoid When You're Sick

Just as important as knowing what to drink is knowing what to avoid. Certain beverages can hinder your recovery by causing dehydration or aggravating symptoms:

Caffeinated beverages: Coffee, black tea, and energy drinks are diuretics and can worsen dehydration.
Alcohol: This is a diuretic that also weakens the immune system and should be avoided entirely.
High-sugar drinks: Sugary sodas and juices can weaken the immune system and increase inflammation. Excessive sugar can also upset a sensitive stomach.
Dairy products: For some, dairy can thicken mucus and increase nausea, especially during a stomach illness.

Comparative Analysis of Sickness Beverages


Drink	Best For	Key Benefit	Considerations
Water	All symptoms, general hydration	Pure hydration, no added sugar	Essential for all illnesses
Herbal Tea	Sore throat, nausea, congestion	Soothing, anti-inflammatory properties	Choose decaf; add honey and lemon for added relief
Clear Broth	Colds, flu, nausea	Hydrating, replenishes electrolytes	Low-sodium options are best
Electrolyte Drink	Fever, vomiting, diarrhea	Restores lost minerals	Can be high in sugar; dilute with water
Lemon & Honey Water	Sore throat, cough	Soothing coating for the throat	Avoid for children under 1 year due to botulism risk
Ginger Ale (Flat)	Nausea	Settles the stomach for some	Use sparingly due to high sugar content

How to Choose the Right Drink for Your Symptoms

Your choice of beverage should be dictated by your specific symptoms. If you have a high fever and are sweating heavily or experiencing vomiting and diarrhea, an electrolyte drink may be your best bet to prevent dehydration. For a simple cold with a sore throat and congestion, a warm honey and lemon tea can provide the most comfort. When unsure, plain water is always a safe and effective option.

Conclusion

While a variety of drinks can help when you’re feeling sick, the best choice is often one that provides simple, pure hydration without added sugar or dehydrating agents. Water remains the most reliable option, but warm broths, herbal teas, and electrolyte drinks serve targeted purposes that can significantly aid your recovery. Always listen to your body and avoid anything that irritates your stomach or throat. For severe dehydration or persistent symptoms, it's always best to consult a healthcare provider.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for specific medical concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some people find that flat, clear sodas like ginger ale can help settle a nauseated stomach. However, be mindful of the high sugar content, which can be counterproductive for recovery. It's often best to dilute it with water or stick to herbal alternatives like ginger tea.

While 100% orange juice provides vitamin C, sugary drinks can cause inflammation and potentially hinder your immune response. If your stomach is sensitive, the acidity might also cause irritation. Opt for diluted juice or other hydration sources first.

The best temperature depends on your symptoms. Warm liquids like tea and broth can soothe a sore throat and help with congestion. Cool or room-temperature water is excellent for general hydration, and some find sipping cold water helps with nausea.

Milk is hard for the body to metabolize and for some people, can thicken mucus, which can worsen congestion. It's often recommended to avoid dairy products, especially during the initial stages of a cold or if you have a stomach illness.

Electrolyte drinks are most beneficial when you've lost significant fluids and minerals due to high fever, prolonged sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea. For general sickness and hydration, water is typically sufficient.

A warm drink of honey and lemon in water or decaffeinated tea can be very effective for a cough. Honey acts as a natural cough suppressant and soothes the throat.

While the warmth from a non-alcoholic hot toddy (made with honey, lemon, and tea) can be soothing, adding alcohol is not recommended. Alcohol is dehydrating and can interfere with your immune system's ability to fight infection.