Does hot chocolate help with a sore throat?

The winter season is not just about snow, hot cocoa by the fire, and Yuletide carols. It’s also famous for one thing: sore throats. Cold weather coupled with flu season can lead to several bouts of upper respiratory infections such as colds, bronchitis, sinusitis, and of course, sore throat.

When it comes to treating this ailment that reduces your smooth voice to a croak and making you sound like an amphibian (ribbit!), remedies abound everywhere people turn; from pharmacies to homemade remedies passed down through generations.

One remedy shrouded in controversy is the effect drinking hot chocolate has on relieving sore throats – some swear by it while others consider it an absolute myth.

What causes sore throat?

Before delving into whether hot chocolate helps alleviate sore throat pain, understanding what causes the condition might shed some light on its management.

A sore throat, technically labeled pharyngitis or tonsillitis depending on what part of the pharynx affected and sometimes caused by a viral infection or bacteria group known as Streptococcus pyogenes further explains redness at back of mouth including tonsils

Needless to say, factors causing inflammation doesn’t always result from viruses or bacterial infections but can be due you shouting out loud during football game,muscles strain while snoring excessively

Symptoms therefore include discomfort when swallowing accompanied by swelling dripping nose sneezing congested enough bloodshot watery eyes /headache fatigue body especially around neck area , difficulty speaking low fever which are usually treated with analgesics/painkillers antibiotics +/- steroids recommended based clinical findings

How Does Hot Cocoa Affect Sore Throats?

Hot cocoa is derived either using unsweetened cocoa powder generated after drying up fat reducing substance called cacao beans grounded until made smooth paste or syrup extracted from chocolate mixture including butter.

Hot cocoa does not have any direct significant effect on sore throat because no inherent properties in the drink provide an antibacterial punch that kills bacteria.

So, how then can it offer quick relief to a sore throat? People who advocate for drinking hot cocoas tout its soothing and warming properties. The drink has a comforting effect providing warmth giving quick fix by esophagus relay of sensory receptors responses which are temporarily numb.

The heat warms up the chest wall making nervous system more yielding lowering possibility airway irritant activating reflexes & blocking pain messages originating pharynx transmitting brain where people gradually experience reduction symptom severity within few minutes

Additional Benefits:

Other additional benefits obtained from consuming hot cocoa might increase effectiveness in relieving some symptoms associated with upper respiratory infections:

Boosting Immunity

Cocoa contains flavonoids similar to tea leaves and red wine; these substances possess natural antioxidants with the ability to boost our immune system enhancing body defence mechanism against infection plus inflammation as well improving metabolism balance both internal /external stressors

Soothing Cough:

One of the active ingredient found in dark chocolate/commercialised version produced using less cacao called theobromine also found naturally occurring inside tea leaves is mainly used treating overweight health disorder coughs linked respiratory organs conditions. By suppressing sensitive neurons increasing release needed dilating bronchiolus whose constriction causes uncomfortable fits leads inability breathe properly/easily

Further research studies carried out to analyze efficacy derived popular medicinal remedies based anecdotal evidence might provide insight formulation clinical trials offering bigger ensemble knowledge claims made over years about traditional treatment methods numerous ailments ultimately strengthening trusted reassuring treatment effectively advancing medical science growth.

Precautions when choosing your Hot Cocoa Mix!

While there seem to be plenty of reasons why sipping on rich brew cocoa could help ease you’re hurting gargling sound-producing irritation at mouth end, you should exercise some caution when choosing your hot cocoa mix.

Added Sugar

An excessive amount;typically found in most commercialised cocoas mixes could result in significant gingival tissue destruction,leading to cavities as well Type 2 Diabetes mellitus incidence. Dark rich cacao tends to be bitter & not readily soluble naturally hence normally mixed using sweeteners affecting metabolic systems not catered for

Caffeine Content

Cocoa does contain caffeine – both of which might cause agitation and aggravate symptoms rather than alleviating them especially when taken as bedtime beverages associated insomnia paradoxical high intake leading decreasing potential helpful responses beverage body becoming lipidated e.g insomnia jitteriness headache gastric pain considered drug abuse

Conclusion

In conclusion, drinking hot chocolate/powder (provided it contains little or no added sugar) might offer a temporary great supportable relief from the discomfort caused by sore throat whereas rational use appropriate analgesic antibiotics +/- steroids based clinical findings delivering better symptom control long term prevention infections expected alleviate patients sufferings with minimum side effects while concurrently promoting body natural immunity health supplementary snacks/sweets what more do we need?

Thus, credible remedies solely are likely to produce concrete definitive outcomes effective management even curative measures where evidence linked clearly multi-level gains potentially furthering spreading ailment completely limited reducing rate recurrence ailments also avoiding unnecessary complications death so take charge over personal decision making regardless anecdotal claims but seeking medical professional advice before self-administration frequently updating prescribed medications inputted into regimen ahead transforming cure-all approach .