Last winter, I had a cold so bad I thought my head was going to float away. I chugged a whole 2-liter of ginger ale over two days. Did it cure me? Nope. But did it make me feel like a civilized human while I wallowed in misery? Absolutely.
My husband walked by and said, “You know that’s mostly sugar, right?” I threw a pillow at him. The point is: ginger ale is not a medicine, but it’s a ritual. It’s the cold, bubbly companion that holds your hand while you’re sick.
So, does ginger ale help with a cold? Maybe not scientifically. But it helps with you—your mood, your nostalgia, your need for something that isn’t a lukewarm glass of disappointment. Drink it with a smile. Just don’t skip the actual cold meds.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to open a can and pretend it’s 1998 again. Cheers to the placebo we all deserve.
