Water: Water is the best thing you can drink when you have a cold. It keeps your mucous membranes lubricated and healthy, and keeps you hydrated efficiently. Herbal tea: It can help to soothe some of the symptoms of congestion while keeping you hydrated. Just avoid teas with caffeine. Hot water with honey and lemon: The heat is soothing and can help with congestion, while the honey coats a sore throat and the lemon can speed healing with its vitamin C. Broth: Broth is a great way to consume the calories you need to give your body energy when solid food is just too much. Broths can also have anti-inflammatory effects. Ginger tea: While ginger ale probably won’t help you heal faster from a cold, ginger tea is a great alternative. The ginger root contains anti-inflammatory nutrients, gingerols and shaogals, which can provide relief to a sore throat. They are also known to kill rhinovirus, the most common cause of colds.