Have the Stomach Flu? These Foods May Help
By Sara Butler
The stomach flu is making its way across the country this winter, striking fear in the hearts of people everywhere. There's nothing quite as miserable as the stomach flu, but there are things you can do to make it easier on your digestive system should you come down with it. Here are some foods that the chiropractors at The Joint suggest you try when trying to recover from the stomach flu.
Crackers
Crackers are firmly in the neutral category of foods, meaning that they can help to give your body a little fuel to replace lost nutrients but won't upset your stomach in the process. In fact, crackers have been found to be a food that actually helps you to keep other foods down, so try a cracker and see if it helps, then proceed to other easily digestible foods.
Bananas
When you're sick with the stomach flu, one of the nutrients lost the fastest is potassium. That's why bananas are a great food to add to your recovery -- they're full of much-needed potassium to help restore your body's lost stores. Bananas also happen to be a very digestible food, so it won't stress out your body's digestive system either. That's important when things are still a little touchy in your recovery.
Rice
Stomach flu causes your body to lose a lot of nutrients fast. Slowly adding a complex carbohydrate such a rice back into your diet as you recover can help replace those nutrients so your body doesn't become too weak. You can eat rice plain or with a little bit of salt or other mild seasonings (avoid spice!) to help settle your stomach and keep up your strength to fully recover.
Broth
Broth is a great way to introduce a little protein and fat back into your diet without upsetting your stomach too much. Sip on vegetable or chicken broth at first, adding in a slice of toast or crackers as you feel better.
Toast
Speaking of toast, it's great for your recovering digestive system whether you pair it with broth or not. It won't wreak too much havoc on your sensitive digestive system while helping your body to replenish some of the nutrients it lost during the illness. Choose whole grain toast if you can, but even a slice of white bread won't hurt you if your stomach is still feeling super sensitive.
Be gentle with your stomach as you recover from a stomach virus, but don't deprive your body of what it needs to get healthy once more!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Edmond, Okla.