It’s flu season, and you’re feeling awful. You don’t have to suffer any longer! This blog post is going to show you what to eat with the flu so that you can get back on your feet quickly. If you are looking for a quick list of foods that will help, we’ve got it here for you – and if not, keep reading as this blog post will tell more about each food option so that you know which one is best for your needs.
Here’s a list of foods that should help ease your discomfort:
- Chicken soup: Chicken soup is rich in nutrients and will hydrate your body while providing much needed electrolytes. It also contains lots of protein which will help build up muscle strength to fight off the virus.
- Rice or soy burgers with a side of avocado or guacamole to help you get your potassium levels back up.
- Cottage cheese or yogurt – Use these as healthy sources for calcium since milk is not recommended if you have the flu because it can increase wheezing symptoms when consumed due to its lactose content.
Best fruits to eat when you have a Flu
Fruits are needed when you have flu. Here are some of the best ones:
- Apples: Fruits are needed when you have flu. Apples contain antioxidants, which help combat inflammation and infection in your body – both of which contribute to a feeling of sickness during colds or the flu. They also provide vitamin C, folic acid, as well as dietary fiber – all three of which will keep your immune system functioning at its best so that it can fight off any potential viruses.
- Citrus fruits: Citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits are full of Vitamin C (which helps build up collagen) among other key nutrients like beta carotene and folate.Their vitamin C content stimulates white blood cells to produce antibodies against infection by viruses.
- A smoothie with pineapple: Pineapple is high in vitamin C which helps fight off the virus and gives you an energy boost, plus it’s easy to digest.
- Kiwi fruit are rich in potassium and have lots of other vitamins like A, B-complex group, E, riboflavin and folate that can help protect against infection by flu viruses.
- Grapes – an antioxidant powerhouse with quercetin which helps reduce inflammation as well as iron and copper which boosts immunity. Grapes also have less sugar than most fruits.
- Bananas are high in potassium, so they’re great for people with low blood pressure or who’ve been sweating a lot from fever. They also contain magnesium, which helps reduce stress levels and relaxes muscles, as well as vitamin C which boosts immunity.
- Pears have been shown to boost immune system function while oranges may speed up recovery time from colds or flu symptoms when consumed regularly due to their high levels of Vitamin C.
Vegetables that increase your body’s immune system
- Cabbage, broccoli and leafy greens are all great options for a flu diet. They contain folate which is known to combat infections in the upper respiratory tract and help reduce fever as well as vitamin C that helps with immunity.
- Carrots – low-calorie snack with lots of beta carotene (an antioxidant), potassium, vitamin A and more!
- Spinach – It has lots of folate, vitamin A and C to help combat infections.
- Potatoes – A great source of potassium for electrolyte balance.
- Beans – They are a good source of protein and fiber that help with digestion.
- Ginger tea – Ginger has been used historically to fight infections such as colds and influenza thanks to their anti inflammatory qualities that reduce inflammation causing congestion. The spice also reduces nausea caused by infection so drink up this winter season.
- Garlic – Studies shows garlic helps by increasing the production of white blood cells.
- Onions – They have high levels vitamin C and selenium which are good for immunity, too.
The key is making sure what you eat has enough nutrients to keep your body strong while fighting whatever virus that may have come up. If you’re not feeling well try some of these foods and see how you feel.
What should you not eat when you have the flu?
Keep in mind that if you have the flu, your stomach will not be able to process certain foods. There are certain foods that must be avoided when you have the flu because they will make the symptoms worse. Here are some of
- Chocolate – This is because eating chocolate will only make you feel worse if you have the flu. It has an acidic effect on your stomach and can also cause nausea.
- Fried foods – If they are not cooked properly before being eaten, it could lead to increased heartburn symptoms as well as acid reflux that would just add more pain to your whole experience of having the flu.
- Alcoholic beverages – Alcohol does nothing but dehydrate your body even further and increase any feelings of queasiness in a person who already feels incredibly sick with the flu virus attacking their system . Avoid alcohol completely when you’re feeling like this.
- Acidic foods – Not only can they make your throat feel sore and irritated, but if you eat something acidic while already feeling nauseous with the flu, it could lead to increased heartburn symptoms as well.
- Hot peppers – Hot peppers are not a good idea when you have any stomach issues at all because of how spicy and irritating they are to your system. They will do nothing more than add insult to injury for someone who is experiencing nausea or vomiting from having the flu virus.
- Peanuts – Peanut butter might give you some relief if you’re feeling queasy, but when your stomach is already in bad shape from the flu virus , it’s best to steer clear of peanuts altogether.
- Coffee – Coffee might not be a good idea for most people who are at risk for getting dehydrated with the flu or experiencing nausea and vomiting because caffeine can lead to dehydration
- Grapefruit juice- Grapefruit juice should only be taken sparingly as well due to how acidic it
- Grains or starches – They can cause bloating and discomfort on an empty stomach.
- Cheese and Milk – It can cause diarrhea in some people
These are some of the foods that must be avoided when you have flu. It better to avoid eating these things if you want to recover from a flu faster.
Common Symptoms of Flu
We all know the feeling of being sick, but how do we know when it’s just a cold or if it’s something more serious like the flu? This blog post will help you identify some symptoms to look out for so that you can get better sooner.
Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. The flu virus can cause fever, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. In most cases the symptoms are mild or moderate but some people may experience serious complications from the flu such as pneumonia or worsening of chronic health conditions like asthma.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that every year in the United States, about 200,000 people are hospitalized with flu-related conditions. It’s important to see your doctor if you think you have been exposed to someone with the flu who has had severe complications so that they can be treated quickly and reduce their risk of more serious problems developing.
How to avoid infecting others with flu
The flu is a virus that can be spread through droplets from coughing or sneezing. It can also live on surfaces and in the air for hours after an infected person has left. This means you could catch it from someone who was at work, school, church, the grocery store, etc., even if they don’t come near you.
To avoid infecting others with this nasty bug try to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze (use a tissue), stay home if you’re sick so you won’t go out and potentially expose other people to the virus, wash your hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer gel when possible. The best way to protect yourself is by getting vaccinated each year. Did You Know? The flu vaccine is now available as a nasal spray.
It’s also important not to spread germs around yourself since this could lead to others getting sick as well. You should try not touch your eyes, nose or mouth while at home for instance so that any germs on your hands don’t get into your body by touch. If you have to cough or sneeze, try and do so towards other people rather then on them – this will reduce the risk of spreading any germs that might be inside your mouth too.
You should also take care not to contaminate food with bacteria from dirty hands if cooking for others which could lead to more illness in those who consume it. It’s important to keep surfaces clean after handling raw meat (for instance) especially since a chef may go back to preparing salads without washing their hands first afterwards.