Five Best Foods to Eat When You’re Sick
In this article, we discuss the five best foods to eat whether you have nausea, cold-like symptoms, dehydration, or the flu. Consuming these foods will consistently provide fast sickness relief and recovery.
- Table of Contents
- What Foods should I eat?
- What Foods should I Avoid?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Foods Should I Eat?
It may seem like you have no food options when you’re sick but that’s not true. Many options, like broths and fruits, are beneficial if you have the flu. Staying hydrated and nourished when sick with flu is important, so simple, nutrient-filled meals are best. When you’re feeling under the weather, there’s a tendency to eat foods that make you feel good but aren’t good for you. Avoiding this is the key step to a speedy recovery.
Chicken (noodle) soup is a great choice for those who are feeling any kind of sickness. Its rich flavor, warm broth, and soft vegetables allow you to gain all the required nutrients you need without any of the bad stuff.
Garlic is another herb that’s easy to find and is considered as a spice that promotes wellness. This is still true in today’s world, and it’s recommended that garlic be one of the first home remedies you try when you feel a sickness coming on. Promoting wellness oftentimes means preventing all sickness from the jump.
Ginger is the last herb we’ll mention for promoting healthy recovery. Its healing properties appear in ginger ale, ginger snaps, and even in hot tea which makes it perhaps the most versatile choice on this list. Some drinks that may help people with nausea include water, ginger ale, ginger tea and peppermint tea. If you are dehydrated, try a drink with electrolytes, but stay away from sugary versions. Ginger is a great wellness option for nausea or headache symptoms. We’ve all had those days where our head is killing us and ginger is often one of the first remedies we turn to. That fact remains a constant in getting well soon.
What Foods Should I Avoid?
Sugar – causes inflammation which makes it harder for your body to recover. Sugar is a major culprit for sickness and feeling sluggish or slow to get up when you’re under the weather. Taking care to drink things that are low in sugar or artificial sweetener while you recover is a good step to preventing further illness.
Caffeine – can cause dehydration and is a stimulant that prevents your body from getting the rest it needs. Caffeine is often found in carbonated sodas, chocolate and most famously in coffee. All of these food sources are rotten ideas for curing sickness. Getting better sometimes requires that we sacrifice what’s comfortable for what makes our body happy.
Alcohol – weakens the immune system making it harder for your body to fight the illness. Alcohol has minimal healing properties and that becomes even more accurate when you’re ill. Avoiding any and all spirits until your body fully overcomes its sickness is highly recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long will it take for me to get better?
This question is tough to answer because it depends on you. Your body and the sickness that it’s fighting will often determine how long you’re under wraps. That being said, don’t rush this process. Only you truly know when you feel better, so trust your gut and have faith in your body’s ability to heal.
2. When should I visit the doctor?
Severe reactions to sickness such as fainting or passing out, skin discoloration or sudden rashes, and high body temperature are all potential warning signs that you may need professional medical attention. Even so, following this guide is a great initial checklist to help determine your sickness levels before you take that emergency room trip
3. Why does my body shut down when I’m sick?
It’s all in your immune system. Your body often tasks the immune system with protecting itself from current and future sickness. This means that the coughing, runny nose, and stuffiness you experience when you’re sick is on purpose. Your immune system flips its histamines switch and the internal fight begins. Once you’ve fully recovered, these symptoms will clear up and you’ll be thanking your immune system for the protection it provides. .
Whether it’s a common cold or a full-blown infection, keeping your body healthy year-round is a complicated task. Being health conscious is not. At WellFed, we boost your knowledge of all things wellness by meeting you where you are. To learn more about how we help you take care of you better, please visit wellfed.us. It’s always a great day to become WellFed.