Flu-fighting foods
What to eat (or avoid) when you’re down with the crud
Kate Morin, beat blogger
The inevitable has happened, and I have caught what seems to be the flu. I have been quarantined to my bedroom for the last 24 hours, freezing cold, then burning hot, falling asleep constantly, barely able to get out of bed. The last thing I want to do is eat, but, everyone keeps telling me it is really important to eat something to keep my energy up. The idea of eating anything is repulsing to me, so I figured if I have to eat something, I’m going to avoid the things that might make me feel sicker, and choose something that might actually make me feel better.
Tips for staying healthy
Drink plenty of liquids: Water, juices, and ginger ale are the best.
Get as much nutritional value from your foods as you can: G citrus fruits, bananas, chicken and/or vegetable soups, lean proteins (chicken, fish, green vegetables, soy products), bland foods like whole wheat toast — with NO butter.
Get lots of sleep: The more rest you get, the more energy your body has to spend on fighting the virus. If you feel sick, and you feel like you could sleep — do it.
Foods to avoid
Junk food: anything that has little nutritional value. Avoid candy, soda, chips, etc. These products are empty calories, plus the extra sugar and grease is hard to digest and will wear your body out further.
Alcohol, coffee, tea: All three lead to dehydration, something you want to combat when sick– not contribute to. I know its a common thought that tea will help when you are sick, which can be true for colds, but not for the flu. However, if you do decide to have some tea, be sure to drink an equal amount of water to keep your hydration levels up.
Fried foods and spicy foods: Fried foods are hard for your body to digest, and are often filled with empty calories. Spicy foods can be good to clear up congestion, but if you have having any stomach troubles, avoid these foods.
Cheese, milk, butter, and other dairy products: These can also be hard to digest, but they also can make the mucus in the nose and throat thicker, which 1. Gives the virus a better breeding ground, and 2. Makes your runny nose, sore throat, and cough even worse.
Excessive salt: salt dehydrates your body– try to avoid it in large amounts.
k
