Bushra Griffith
When suffering from a stomach bug, it's important to be mindful of what you consume. The stomach flu, or viral gastroenteritis, can cause watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and muscle aches. To prevent dehydration, it's crucial to focus on drinking fluids frequently. While staying hydrated is essential, consuming the wrong foods can worsen your symptoms. High-fat foods like butter, cheese, and sour cream can exacerbate diarrhea. Instead, opt for lean proteins such as eggs or poultry and meats with minimal added fat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Should you eat cheese when you have a stomach bug? | No, cheese is a high-fat topping that can worsen diarrhea. |
| What is a stomach bug? | Scientifically, the stomach bug is known as viral gastroenteritis, a highly contagious infection that affects your stomach and intestines. |
| What are the symptoms of a stomach bug? | Watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea or vomiting, headaches, muscle aches, and sometimes fever. |
| What should you eat when you have a stomach bug? | Lean poultry and meats, eggs, ginger, peppermint tea, broths, teas, sodas, non-caffeinated sports drinks, Pedialyte, and apple cider vinegar. |
| What should you avoid when you have a stomach bug? | Sugar, caffeine, salt, fried food, and dairy. |
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What You'll Learn
Cheese and other high-fat foods can worsen diarrhoea
When suffering from a stomach bug, it's important to be mindful of what you eat and drink. Viral gastroenteritis, commonly known as the stomach bug or stomach flu, is marked by symptoms like watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, muscle aches, and sometimes fever. While hydration is crucial, it's also important to be cautious about what you consume.
Eggs are a nutritious choice when battling a stomach bug. They are easy on the stomach when prepared with little added fat, dairy, or spices, and they provide essential protein and nutrients like B vitamins and selenium. Additionally, consider seasoning your food with salt, as sodium levels can deplete during the stomach flu.
It's also recommended to try ginger, which is commonly used to alleviate nausea, a primary symptom of the stomach bug. You can grate fresh ginger root into a soup or brew it as a tea. Peppermint tea is another option, as it provides much-needed fluids.
While it's important to stay hydrated, drinking too much liquid at once may worsen nausea and vomiting. Therefore, it's suggested to start with small amounts of liquid frequently and try sucking on ice chips to prevent consuming too much liquid too quickly.
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Hydration is crucial, but drinking too much liquid at once may worsen nausea
When dealing with a stomach bug, hydration is crucial. Stomach bugs, or viral gastroenteritis, can cause watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, muscle aches, and sometimes fever. The main complication of a stomach bug is dehydration, which is a severe loss of water and essential salts and minerals. Therefore, it is important to drink enough fluids to replace those lost from vomiting or diarrhea.
However, drinking too much liquid at once may worsen nausea. To avoid this, it is recommended to drink small amounts of liquid frequently to stay hydrated. Sucking on ice chips can help prevent you from consuming liquids too quickly and may help you keep fluids down.
There are a variety of liquids that can help with hydration when you have a stomach bug. These include broths, teas (such as peppermint or ginger tea), sodas, non-caffeinated sports drinks, and Pedialyte, an over-the-counter rehydration drink. Apple cider vinegar is another option, as it is naturally acidic and can support stomach secretions.
In addition to hydration, it is important to be mindful of the foods you consume when dealing with a stomach bug. High-fat foods, such as cheese, butter, and sour cream, should be avoided as they can worsen diarrhea. Instead, lean proteins like eggs or grilled poultry and meats are recommended.
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Ginger and peppermint tea can help alleviate nausea
While cheese is not directly bad for a stomach bug, it is a high-fat food that can worsen diarrhoea. It is best to avoid high-fat foods and dairy when you have a stomach bug, as it can be difficult to keep anything down. Instead, focus on replenishing fluids and staying hydrated.
Ginger and peppermint tea can be great natural remedies to help alleviate nausea, a primary symptom of the stomach bug. Ginger root has been used for thousands of years to treat stomach upset, nausea, and diarrhoea. It exerts an anti-vomiting effect by reducing gastric contractions and increasing gastrointestinal activity. Ginger is available in many forms, including fresh, as a spice, or as an ingredient in teas, syrups, capsules, tinctures, and candies. However, it is important to note that ginger may cause diarrhoea in high doses, so it is best to avoid concentrated sources. Brewing fresh ginger root into a tea can be a great way to relieve nausea.
Peppermint has muscle-relaxing properties, a calming effect on the nerves, and the ability to improve digestion by relaxing the muscles in the gastrointestinal tract. It is also a popular flavouring in tea, making it a pleasant solution for nausea relief. Peppermint tea is also one of the most commonly used herbal medicines in pregnancy to help curb nausea and vomiting. It is important to note that peppermint should be avoided in very large amounts during the first trimester of pregnancy, as it can promote menstruation.
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Electrolytes and apple cider vinegar can help with rehydration
Stomach bugs, often caused by viral gastroenteritis, can lead to watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, muscle aches, and sometimes fever. The main complication of a stomach bug is dehydration, which is a severe loss of water and essential salts and minerals. It is important to let your stomach settle, avoid eating solid foods for a few hours, and focus on drinking small amounts of liquid frequently to stay hydrated.
Electrolytes are essential minerals that play a crucial role in keeping the body functioning smoothly. They include sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Electrolytes are important for maintaining fluid balance and facilitating muscle contractions. When individuals experience vomiting and diarrhoea due to a stomach bug, they can rapidly lose fluids and electrolytes, increasing the risk of dehydration. Electrolyte-enhanced waters or oral rehydration solutions are recommended for replenishing lost fluids and electrolytes. These solutions contain water, carbohydrates, and electrolytes in specific proportions that are easy to digest. Electrolyte supplements in the form of powders or tablets can also be added to water, providing a convenient way to enhance rehydration. However, it is important to note that severe dehydration may require medical attention, and electrolyte beverages may not be sufficient in such cases.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a traditional remedy that has gained popularity for its potential health benefits. It is made from crushed fermented apples, yeast, and sugar. ACV contains acetic acid, which has bacteria-killing properties, as well as antioxidants and modest amounts of probiotics. While research on its benefits is limited, ACV is generally considered harmless when used correctly. Adding ACV to water creates an alkalizing drink rich in potassium, which can aid in digesting animal protein and may help lower blood sugar levels.
By incorporating both electrolytes and apple cider vinegar into a rehydration strategy, individuals can enhance their fluid intake and support their body's mineral balance. Electrolytes help replenish lost salts and increase water retention, while apple cider vinegar contributes additional nutrients and potential health benefits. Together, they can be a useful approach to combating dehydration caused by a stomach bug. However, it is always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice, especially in cases of severe or persistent symptoms.
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The BRAT diet can help you recover from a stomach bug
The BRAT diet, an acronym for banana, rice, applesauce, and toast, is a bland food diet that has been used to treat stomach bugs. The diet is based on the principle that these bland, easily digestible foods can help soothe the digestive system, firm up stools, and reduce bowel movement frequency. Bananas, for example, are high in potassium, a vitamin that can be lost due to vomiting and diarrhea. The BRAT diet can help replace these lost nutrients and ease your body back into normal eating.
However, recent research suggests that the BRAT diet may not be as beneficial as previously thought. It may not provide adequate nutrients for the gut to heal, lacking protein, fiber, fat, and several vitamins and minerals. As a result, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children resume a normal diet within 24 hours of getting sick.
It is important to note that the BRAT diet should only be used in the short term and accompanied by proper hydration and electrolytes. If you experience persistent or severe symptoms, it is best to consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice.
While the BRAT diet may not be the ultimate solution for recovering from a stomach bug, it can still be a helpful starting point. As your stomach settles, you can gradually introduce other bland, low-fiber foods that are easy to digest, such as clear broths, plain crackers, and boiled potatoes.
Overall, while the effectiveness of the BRAT diet is debated, it can still be a useful tool in managing the initial stages of a stomach bug, helping to ease digestion and restore nutrients as you transition back to a regular diet.
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Frequently asked questions
Cheese and other dairy products can be problematic due to their high-fat content, which could worsen diarrhea. It is recommended to avoid high-fat foods and drinks with added butter, cheese, and sour cream.
It is best to avoid solid foods for a few hours and focus on drinking liquids like broths, teas, and sports drinks to stay hydrated. Foods and drinks with high sugar content, caffeine, salt, and fried food should also be avoided as they could exacerbate symptoms of diarrhea and nausea.
Lean poultry and meats, eggs, and ginger are recommended for those with a stomach bug as they are easy on the stomach and provide essential nutrients. Peppermint tea and apple cider vinegar are also suggested as they are good sources of fluids and can help support the digestive system.
