With the start of school and the beginning of autumn approaching, it is also time for the flu season to commence. You ensure that you and your whole family are protected against the flu, be sure to get your flu vaccine as soon as possible. However, it is always possible to get a cold or stomach sickness that is spreading around the community, whether before or after receiving a vaccine.
It is possible to improve your symptoms more quickly if you consume the proper food when you are feeling weak and achy due to a runny nose, sore throat, and a cold. However, eating the incorrect foods might impair your immune system's capacity to fight off a virus or bacterium in the first place.
Continue reading to find out which meals you should consume while you or a member of your family is ill, as well as which foods you should avoid completely.
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1. Consume foods high in vitamin C while avoiding acidic beverages
Unfortunately, consuming or drinking vitamin C will not protect you from catching a cold or other illness. Citrus fruits, such as oranges, limes, lemons, and grapefruits, which are high in Vitamin C, may provide a significant boost to your immune system, allowing you to combat the common cold more effectively. It has been shown to lower the intensity and duration of cold symptoms in a large number of people.
If, on the other hand, you're suffering from stomach flu, the high acidity of some of these fruits and juices may worsen your symptoms. So if you notice that orange juice is irritating your stomach or if you have been vomiting, you should reduce your intake.
2. Consume hot chicken noodle soup, but refrain from consuming sugar or sweets
What is it about chicken noodle soup that makes it such a comforting dish when we're feeling under the weather? Sometimes it seems as if just breathing the aroma of chicken noodle soup or other broth-based soups might make us feel a bit better.
The truth is that studies have shown that hot liquids, especially hot chicken broth soups, may help to relieve mucus congestion and cleanse nasal passages. Whether the soup is consumed or whether the soup's scent is inhaled, this is shown to be correct. Additionally, the warm beverages are comforting to a sore throat.
When you're ill, hot chicken noodle soup is a terrific meal to keep you hydrated and feeling less congested while also providing you with minerals and calories. The opposite impact may be achieved by substituting sweets such as cookies, candy, ice cream, or other desserts for this savory alternative. These meals may seem to be comfort foods, but eating too much sugar may cause your stomach to become inflamed and your immune system to work harder.
3. Drink Hot Tea, but Avoid Caffeinated Drinks
Having a cup of hot tea is another fantastic beverage option when you have a cold or a congested nose for the same reasons as previously. Hot ginger tea, similar to hot chicken soup, will help relieve a sore throat and cleanse your nasal passages. Ginger is also an excellent meal for settling an upset stomach, as previously mentioned. Green tea is another alternative that contains antioxidants that might help alleviate some of the symptoms of a cold.
Hot teas with lower caffeine levels, on the other hand, should be avoided. If you're attempting to remain hydrated by drinking caffeinated beverages such as soda or coffee, it's possible that these beverages are having the opposite impact. Caffeine might actually cause your body to dehydrate more quickly. The high quantities of salt included in many of these beverages may also have a detrimental impact on your immune system's capacity to fight off a viral or bacterial infection.
4. Consume fresh fruits and vegetables, but refrain from consuming processed foods
When you're sick, it takes more effort on your part to wash and prepare fruits and vegetables, but these fresh meals are rich in the minerals and vitamins your body needs to recuperate. Choose fruits and vegetables that are dark and vibrant in color, such as blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, kale, and spinach, to add color to your diet.
When possible, avoid snacking on processed items such as bags of chips, canned meals, and even saltines when you're hungry. These foods may not include significant quantities of sugar, such as cookies or candies, but they are heavy in salt and sodium, as well as other preservatives, which may prevent your body from mending as rapidly as it would otherwise.
Consult with your primary care physician
When you're sick, it might be difficult to consume any food at all. Eating little amounts of the items indicated above is preferable to consuming a large quantity at once. Consult your family doctor for more suggestions on what to eat and what foods to avoid while you are unwell to get more information.
A family practice doctor, such as those at Callahan Clinic, may examine your complete body from head to toe in a holistic manner. You may work with them to develop a specific food plan that will help you improve your health today before your body becomes ill in the future. If you live in or around St. George in southern Utah, call us to book a consultation with one of our compassionate family physicians. Begin now by eating the correct foods to help build your immune system!
