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It’s that time of the year again when carpets, hot chocolate and the weather outside will influence our mood. Winters are slowly settling in and bringing in time for some hot beverages to keep us warm. However, winter also brings along its bag full of cold and cough. This always makes us look for some quick fixes to get started for the day, maybe a cup of coffee. But if change in weather has already taken a toll on your health and you’re down with a cold and cough, consider replacing your morning coffee with a soothing drink of lemon and clove water for instant relief and it will also give a much-needed boost to your immune system.

According to Ayurveda, cloves have ‘deepan’ properties, meaning they act as appetizers and can improve digestion. Dr Mithun Ramesh Pawar, MD Ayurveda, District Ayush Officer, Satara District, Maharashtra explains that cloves are bitter and have expectorant properties, which help expel phlegm by stimulating the mucus membranes. “Lemon juice is also used as a remedy for indigestion. The combination of cloves, and lemon juice, offers health benefits for managing winter colds and coughs, and all these ingredients are easily available at home,” he said.

“To prepare, soak 4-5 cloves in one cup of water overnight to increase the potency of this medicated water. Optionally, you can also add 1/2 teaspoon of ginger juice for additional benefits,” Dr Mithun further said.

Health Benefits of Lemon and Clove Water:Akshata Chavan, Dietician at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central shares how lemon and clove water can help cure cold, and cough this winter season.

1. Immune System Boost: Lemons are fantastic sources of vitamin C, one of the most trusted antioxidants that will strengthen your immune system and may even help shorten the time you have with your cold. The antimicrobial properties in cloves will help combat bacteria and viruses, so you have an intense pairing that will really help your body's immunity during the winter season.

2. Soothes a Sore Throat: When you are fighting off a scratchy throat, you get comfort with the warmth of the lemon and clove water. On its own, lemon is acidic, which flushes out the mucus of the pharynx while cloves contain the anaesthetic compound eugenol which calms down the pain in the throat.

3. Nasal Decongestant: Try to inhale steam from lemon and clove water when you are congested. Citrus helps break up mucus and loosen it; the cloves are also a natural decongestant that helps to breathe.

4. Natural Energy Boost: Lemon and clove water give you soft energy without the shock of caffeine to scare you back into bed. Vitamin C fights fatigue and aromatic cloves can stimulate your senses to get you ready for a natural boost to start right.

Other Home Remedies to Ease Cold

1. Ginger and Honey Tea: Ginger is an anti-inflammatory while honey soothes sore throats and has a gentle antibacterial effect. This cannot be the answer but together they form one of the finest remedies for cold symptoms.

2. Saltwater Gargle: Saltwater gargling reduces inflammation of the throat and kills bacteria. Mix 1/4 teaspoon salt in warm water and gargle several times a day to cure it.

3. Steam with Eucalyptus Oil: Inhalation with a few drops of Eucalyptus oil helps to unblock nasal congestions and loosen mucus. In most cases, it is useful the night before for better rest.

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