If you have the flu, you might be wondering if there’s a special diet to help you feel better. After all, you’ve heard the old saying, “Feed a cold, starve a fever.” But what do you eat when you have both a fever and cold-like symptoms that feature the flu?
Of course, good nutrition is a should to assist your body immune system battle this infection. But when your body fights influenza symptoms for days or even weeks, your diet becomes a lot more crucial to helping you get better.
Which Foods Help Fight the Flu?
Even when you aren’t sick, you need protein to keep your body strong. Your body uses it to build strength and keep what you already have. Lean meat, poultry, fish, beans, dairy, eggs, nuts, and seeds ready sources.
The FDA says adults must eat 50 grams of protein a day. Pregnant and nursing women need more. Foods that have it provide nutrients like vitamins B6 and B12, both which keep your body immune system working like it should.
Vitamin B6 comes in protein-rich foods like turkey and beans, as well as potatoes, spinach, and enriched cereal grains. Meats, milk, and fish likewise contain vitamin B12, a powerful immune booster.
Minerals like selenium and zinc likewise keep your body immune system going strong. These minerals are found in protein-rich foods like beans, nuts, meat, and poultry.
Do Flavonoids Help?
Flavonoids consist of about 4,000 substances that are accountable for the colors of fruits and flowers. Research study shows that flavonoids discovered in the soft white skin of citrus fruits — like grapefruit, oranges, lemons, and limes– really accelerate your immune system.
What Other Nutrients Fight Infection?
Glutathione strengthens your body immune system so it can eradicate infections. You’ll find this powerful anti-oxidant at a loss, pulpy area of a watermelon near the skin. It’s likewise in kale, collard greens, broccoli, and cabbage.
Does Food Help or Hurt Congestion?
Any food or beverage is fine if you’re hungry or thirsty. Dairy products make some people produce more mucus. If this happens to you, avoid dairy for a few days. They might also make nausea and vomiting even worse.
Orange juice, specifically with the pulp, is packed with vitamin C and folic acid, which offer your body immune system an increase and assist you feel much better faster.
What’s Good for Nausea?
It’s probably best to simply not eat if your stomach’s upset or if you have diarrhea. Drink clear beverages to keep your fluids up. You can try cracked ice, juices, sports beverages, ginger ale, clear broths, gelatin, and ice pops.
Start with percentages, like 4 to 8 ounces at a time for adults and 1 ounce or less at a time for children. Just use clear liquids (clear broth, juice, lemon-lime soda). If you’re uncertain if it’s clear, pour it in a clear glass bowl and attempt to check out something through it. If you cannot see the letters, it isn’t really clear.
Warm decaf tea with honey can coat and relieve your throat. Warm beverages are better than cold ones for opening congested respiratory tracts.
Dull foods– like toast, rice, bananas, and applesauce– are good. Professionals state you can return to a normal diet within 24 hours if you feel like it.
What About Grandma’s Chicken Soup?
It’s a need to for cold-like symptoms. One research study discovered that it actually can reduce flu symptoms in your chest and head.
A well-nourished immune system is much better able to fight infections. As soon as you recover from influenza, fill your diet with a variety of food, vibrant fruits and vegetables, and beans. These are high in phytochemicals — natural compounds in food can boost your health.
