Put aside your go-to tea with lemon and honey. A cough expert reveals a more effective ingredient for sore throat relief.
Professor Alyn Morice, a leading cough specialist at Hull University, recommends cocoa over familiar remedies like honey and lemon.
Read also: "Have a sore throat? This tea works wonders"
Clinical studies show medications containing cocoa promote faster recovery than those without. Prior research confirms theobromine—a key compound in cocoa—effectively suppresses coughs.
Coughing triggers when nerve endings in the throat are irritated. Cocoa's thick, sticky consistency forms a protective coating over these nerves, reducing the cough reflex. Professor Morice notes it outperforms honey in this regard.
Chocolate milk lacks this benefit, but honey-lemon tea remains helpful. As Morice advises: 'Sucking on a piece of chocolate might provide some relief.'
Source: Metro.co.uk
