Does eating oranges help with cough?

SKĐS - Oranges and citrus fruits have long been considered a rich source of vitamin C, often recommended for coughs or colds. However, can eating oranges help relieve coughs?

When symptoms of a cough or cold appear, many people immediately think of vitamin C - a familiar nutrient found in oranges, lemons and many other fruits that can help reduce coughs. Vitamin C supplementation is considered a popular "tip" to help strengthen resistance.

1. How does orange affect cough?

Content

• 1. How does orange affect cough?
• 2. Does eating oranges help cure colds?
• 3. Ways to reduce coughs and colds more effectively than eating oranges

Oranges are rich in vitamin C, potassium, calcium and antioxidants, including citric acid – a natural component of the citrus family.

Some literature has noted that citric acid can stimulate the cough reflex under special conditions, such as when concentrated citric acid solutions are inhaled. However, this does not mean that eating oranges will cause coughing.

Citric acid is a natural antioxidant found in oranges, lemons, grapefruits and many other citrus fruits. It is also used in a number of non-food products such as cosmetics, detergents and pharmaceuticals, according to information posted on everydayhealth.

One study found that citric acid can induce coughing when participants inhaled a concentrated solution to test their cough reflex. It is important to emphasize that this study did not evaluate orange consumption, and coughing only occurred after direct inhalation exposure to high concentrations of citric acid.

So, although oranges contain citric acid, there is no evidence that eating oranges causes a cough or makes it worse. However, in some sensitive people, acidic foods may cause mild irritation to the throat when it is inflamed.

2. Does eating oranges help cure colds?

Although it has no clear effect on cough symptoms, oranges have received more attention for their ability to reduce cold symptoms.

Research shows that vitamin C does not prevent colds, but it may help shorten the duration and reduce the severity of symptoms if taken before the body becomes infected.

This means vitamin C is not a "cold cure," but with regular supplementation, the body can recover more quickly from viral infections.

Recommended intake of vitamin C

As recommended:

• Men: 90 mg/day
• Women: 75 mg/day
• Maximum limit: 2,000 mg/day

An average orange contains about 83 mg of vitamin C, which is nearly enough for your daily needs. However, to see if vitamin C can actually help shorten cold symptoms, many studies use doses much higher than what you get from food.

So, eating oranges alone may not be enough to have a noticeable effect on colds. Some people choose to take vitamin C supplements, but note:

• Do not overdose, as it may cause stomach upset, diarrhea, heartburn or headache.
• Vitamin C from natural foods like oranges is still a safer and more eco-friendly choice.

3. Ways to reduce coughs and colds more effectively than eating oranges

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Although oranges are nutritious, they do not treat coughs and are only of some help when you have a cold. To improve the symptoms of coughs and colds, the following remedies are often more effective and are recommended by many documents:

1. Drink enough water: Water helps dilute respiratory secretions, reducing the feeling of dry throat.

2. Suck on cough drops: Some drops help soothe the throat and reduce irritation that causes coughing.

3. Drink hot tea or soup: Warmth helps relax the throat lining, reducing discomfort.

4. Use honey: A spoonful of honey can help relieve coughs, especially at night (not for children under 1 year old.)

5. Gargle with warm salt water: Helps clean the throat, relieve pain and reduce irritation.

6. Use a humidifier: Moist air helps reduce dry throat and cough caused by irritation.

If symptoms persist or worsen, patients should contact a medical facility for appropriate examination and advice.

To treat cough effectively, patients should prioritize measures such as drinking enough water, honey, gargling with salt water, or using appropriate cough medicine.

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Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/an-cam-co-giup-giam-ho-khong-169251206121645126.htm