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Colds & Flus
What comfort foods can I eat when I have a cold?
COLDS, UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS:
- Drink plenty of liquids. Water, tea, fruit juice, fruit drinks, carbonated beverages or broth based soups. Liquids help thin mucous secretions. Chicken noodle soup has been shown to thin mucous secretions.
- Fruit juice or drinks can be thinned with more water to increase tolerance.
- Flavored gelatin can be prepared with water or fruit juice and drank as a liquid rather than waiting for the gelatin to set.
- Avoid dairy products like cream based soups, ice cream, pudding or milk as they increase phlem.
- Any other foods are allowed as long as you tolerate them. Tolerate means a food does not cause vomiting, diarrhea or allergic reaction.
- Your sense of taste may be off since your nasal passages are plugged. Don't be surprised if some or your favorite foods don't taste the same.
- Remember to get plenty of rest. If you are having problems getting to sleep, switch to decaffeinated tea, herbal tea or decaffeinated carbonated beverages.
- Wash your hands with warm soapy water to prevent the spread of the cold virus. Use the paper towels you dry your hands with to turn off the water faucet and open the door to bathrooms.
- Wash all eating or drinking utensils in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher after each use. Use glasses and silverware once then wash to limit the spread of the virus. Remember to wash the bathroom drinking cup too. If you are too sick to wash dishes, use disposable dishes, cups and silverware.
- If you have a cold, stay home rather than spreading the cold virus at work or school.
- Call your doctor for their recommendations to treat cold symptoms.
- If your cold is accompanied by a fever, contact your doctor.
- Use disposable tissues rather than a handkerchief to limit the spread of the cold virus.
- If your cold has lasted more than 7 days or your mucous secretions are any color other than clear or white, contact your doctor.
- As your cold symptoms lessen, gradually increase your food intake back to normal for you. Your appetite for food should increase as you get better.
What comfort foods can I eat when I have the flu?
FLU, FEVER, VOMITING, DIARRHEA:
- If your symptoms include fever and / or vomiting, contact your doctor. The strains of flu this season can be life threatening.
- If you are vomiting, don't eat or drink for up to 1 hour after the latest instance. Then try 2 ounces of water or flat lemon-lime carbonated beverages. If that stays down, then repeat every 15 - 30 minutes.
- When vomiting has stopped for a few hours, start drinking more liquids to replace the loss of body fluids. Water, tea, fruit juice, fruit drinks, carbonated beverages, broth based soups or prepared gelatin. Green gelatin is not a favorite though among people with vomiting.
- Gradually add other foods as tolerated. Buttered or plain white toast without liquids at the same meal or any food that does not cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or allergic reaction is allowed.
- If you have a fever and no vomiting, drink plenty of cold or iced liquids as above.
- If you have diarrhea, contact your doctor.
- To help control diarrhea symptoms, try banana, apple juice, applesauce, tea, rice or rice cereal without milk. These foods are constipating and should help reduce your symptoms.
- Wash your hands with warm soapy water to prevent the spread of the flu virus. Use the paper towels you dry your hands with to turn off the water faucet and open the door to bathrooms.
- Wash all eating or drinking utensils in hot soapy water or in a dishwasher after each use. Use glasses and silverware once then wash to limit the spread of the virus. Remember to wash the bathroom drinking cup too. If you are too sick to wash dishes, use disposable dishes, cups and silverware.
- If you have the flu, stay home rather than spreading the flu virus at work or school. Definitely stay home if you are vomiting, have a fever or diarrhea.
- Remember to get plenty of rest. If you are having problems getting to sleep, switch to decaffeinated tea, herbal tea or decaffeinated carbonated beverages.
- As your flu symptoms subside, gradually increase your food intake back to normal for you. Your appetite for food should increase as you get better.
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