Best Post-Illness Recovery Foods

We don’t have to worry about mosquitoes this season, but now those other dreaded bugs abound—flu, cold, rotavirus—oh dear!

When you or a member of your family comes down with a nasty virus, it can be hard on everyone.  Recovery may also take some time.  Once you’re on the mend, how can you help your body recuperate more quickly?  The Mayo Clinic and WebMD recommends these steps:

Recovering From the Flu:

• Eat Simple Foods: If you’ve suffered from the stomach flu or rotavirus, many physicians recommend following the BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast.  The idea is to eat foods that are easy to digest, so soda crackers, potatoes, and gelatin are also suitable choices.
• Avoid Dairy: Avoid dairy foods (other than yogurt) because the virus that causes the stomach flu can knock out your body’s lactose-absorbing cells that digest milk enzymes.  This effectively makes you temporarily lactose intolerant and can lengthen the time your digestive system takes to recover.  Also avoid soda, caffeine, alcohol, sugary sports drinks, nicotine, fatty foods, and highly seasoned foods.
• Stay Hydrated: It’s extremely important to stay hydrated.  Children can be given rehydration solutions to replace lost electrolytes.  Infants should be given plenty of formula or breast milk (you can also talk to your pediatrician for more information).

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Tags: Cold Remedies, Flu Remedies, Mayo Clinic, WebMD