Eat To Beat A Virus!
Posted: Sunday, November 30, 2008
by Peggy Butler
PSB COMMUNICATIONS
With winter rapidly approaching, it's time to protect yourself from the flu and other viruses associated with plunging temperatures.
It is interesting to note that your body has the ability to fight viral infections all by itself. According to some experts, antibiotics provide little relief for a cold, flu, stomach virus, or the diarrhea and sore throat that often accompany them. Thus, you can help your system recover quicker, by carefully watching what you eat and drink.
Specifically, how you eat, depends on where the virus strikes and what your symptoms are. The same virus can cause different reactions in each victim.
Fever: An extremely high fever makes you sweat. The dangers are dehydration and loss of salt. To counteract these symptoms drink liquids with a high salt content, such as Gatorade, tomato juice or lemonade with a pinch of salt. If you are hot, treat yourself to cool beverages. During the chills stage, drink hot soup or tea. Caution: Tea can increase urine output and cause further dehydration. As for food, keep it simple: toast, soup, cottage cheese and yogurt.
Stuffy Nose: There is evidence that suggests chicken soup actually helps clear nasal passages. So mom was right after all, soup is a great remedy for colds.
Headache: When headaches are brought on by fever and sinus congestion, caffeine can bring relief because it constricts blood vessels. Drink tea, coffee or colas, as well as aspirin preparations that include caffeine. It is important to treat sinus headaches with decongestants.
Upset stomach: Nausea and vomiting can cause dehydration, as well as a lack of desire to eat or drink. You don't have to eat like a ravenous hog, but liquids are important. Chew on ice chips or sip water or soda. As for milk, it is hard for some adults to digest. When the stomach is unsettled, milk should be avoided for several days.
Diarrhea: Replacing lost fluids, potassium and sodium with juice or broth is necessary with severe diarrhea. Best recommendations: Gatorade or lemonade, preferably without sugar. However, if you insist on putting something sweet in your lemonade, try honey or a popular sugar substitute such as Splenda. When you are feeling better, you can begin eating simple foods with slightly constipative properties like rice, bananas and mild cheeses.
Recommended Eating: A healthy diet for keeping fit and staving off infections is high in fiber and complex carbohydrates (whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables), with adequate protein (meat, fish and dairy products) and low in fats (particularly saturated ones like butter and cheese and simple carbohydrates (sweets). So the next time a virus invades your body determined to reek havoc, a cure can be as simple as a slice of toast. Here's to Good Health!
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Good info to know, Ms. Butler. Thanks for sharing it. I've missed your writings.
Do you remember that old adage? "Feed a cold, starve a fever?" It's probably in the Farmer's Almanac. Yeah, I'm a country girl!
Hope you had a bountiful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoy the present holiday season leading to Christmas, Kwanzaa and the New Year! Also, hope to 'read' more of you!
Warm regards,
Avis
Hi Peggy. Thank you for the healthful reminder to beat the virus. It is always good to be reminded. Great article. Well done.Thank you so much for joining my fan club. I am delighted and honored.Best to you and yours,~Nenita~
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