Is everyone sick right now??
Here's what to eat and drink to help you feel better!
For real, is everyone sick right now?? Or, recently been sick? Or, (hopefully not!) might get sick soon?
Being sick isn’t fun. And stressing about eating the “right” things can make being sick even harder. Let’s talk about what you can consider eating and drinking when you’re sick to help yourself feel better!
*Drink lots of fluids! And consider some green tea and honey (as it has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and can act as a cough suppressant)!
*Eat if you’re hungry. Don’t eat if you’re not. If you do feel up to eating, aim to prioritize and include nutrient-rich foods as they can help support your immunity and gut health which can help you feel better sooner! Understand that you might feel “called” to eat different things than your norm, and that’s okay; eat what feels right while sick. If your appetite is off, don’t force food. However, be mindful of how long you don’t eat. You don’t want too much time to go by without any food.
*To this point, if you think some “comfort foods” may help you feel better, have some, within reason! Supporting yourself to feel better is key, and mental and emotional needs matter too!
*Consider elderberries or elderberry products as they have antiviral properties!1 So, these might even help if you have the flu or a cold, which are otherwise not specifically helped by OTC medications.
*Consider supplementing with Vitamin C or Zinc! These can help speed up healing, depending on what you have. (As with any supplement, talk to your doctor about these options!)
*These last notes aren’t food-related, but get some SLEEP, rest, and recover as best as possible when you’re not feeling well! Take days off from workouts, or do low-impact/low-intensity workouts if you can, but avoid intense exercise or anything that will further deplete your body and make it harder to heal! If you want to move and keep fitness in your routine, go for a nice walk, or do some gentle stretching.
Aside from these notes, what else has helped you when you’re feeling sick? Share in the comments or send me an email at sara@nutritionforlifeproject.com!
Have other questions about your nutrition or need support reaching your goals? Reach out!
As always, thank you for reading,
Sara
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0965229918310240?via%3Dihub