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What food should you avoid when sick?

I'd suggest avoiding these four foods when you have the flu: 1 Caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Between elevated temperatures and increased sweating, dehydration is something to be cautious of when you have a fever. ... 2 Greasy foods. ... 3 Hard to digest grains. ... 4 Sugary food or drinks.

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When you have the flu, it may seem like nothing can make you feel better (or worse). However, relief may come from an unexpected place. Oddly enough, some foods may make your flu symptoms worse — or better — without you ever realizing it. The flu often makes consuming food difficult, as flu symptoms can cause nausea or stomach symptoms. Nausea can decrease the desire to eat, and gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea can be triggered if food is consumed too soon. Eating nutrient-dense foods is useful no matter what kind of sickness you have. In fact, it’s especially important when you have a fever. But not all food is created equal. While comfort foods may be what you want when you’re not feeling your best, they’re not necessarily going to make you feel better. In fact, I’d suggest avoiding your go-to comfort foods, as you may end up developing a distaste for them if you consume them when nauseated.

I’d suggest avoiding these four foods when you have the flu:

1 Caffeinated drinks and alcohol

Between elevated temperatures and increased sweating, dehydration is something to be cautious of when you have a fever. Caffeine and alcohol can make your symptoms worse (especially stomach-related symptoms), so I’d recommend sipping on water and other clear liquids throughout the day to stay hydrated.

2 Greasy foods

You’ll want to avoid foods that are difficult to break down and hard on your gastrointestinal system. Foods high in saturated fat should be avoided or limited, as well as fried, greasy foods.

3 Hard to digest grains

The flu occasionally causes you to have an upset stomach, so sticking with foods that are easy to digest like simple/refined carbohydrates is recommended. Foods like dry saltine crackers, toast and pretzels are easy on your stomach and are most likely to be tolerated when you have the flu. That being said, foods that are higher in fiber are also harder to digest, so I’d recommend avoiding them at first.

4 Sugary food or drinks

You may think a vitamin-c rich fruit juices are the best things to drink when you’re sick, but most of these options aren’t nutritionally dense and can inflame your immune system. Again, I’d recommend sipping on water and other clear liquids to stay hydrated.

How to tell if you have a cold, the flu or COVID-19

What should I eat instead?

Broth-based soups are a good choice when you’re sick, as they’re easily tolerated but will also help to replace any fluids and sodium that may have been lost. If you’re losing a lot of fluids from stomach issues (vomiting or diarrhea), drinks with electrolytes like sports drinks or Pedialyte will help keep you hydrated better than water. Once you’re able to tolerate liquids, try slowly moving to soft, bland foods that are less likely to trigger nausea. I’d also recommend consuming small, frequent meals once you’re able to eat, as an empty stomach can also worsen nausea in some people.

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Are Ritz crackers good when sick?

Crackers. Foods high in starch — such as saltines, bread, and toast — help absorb gastric acid and settle a queasy stomach. "The bland nature of a cracker helps to satisfy hunger (excessive hunger can exasperate nausea) without the strong smells or tastes that may increase nausea," says Palinski-Wade.

Most everyone has felt queasy at some time, whether it was testing for a college entrance exam, dressing for a first date, or navigating a new parking lot. But nausea takes that unpleasant sensation one step further. In fact, Stephen B. Hanauer, MD, medical director of the digestive health center at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, describes it as the awful symptom we feel when we need to vomit — and the outcome is predictable. "You throw up," Dr. Hanauer says. Nausea can also indicate a serious emergency, especially if it’s chronic or accompanied by symptoms like chest pain, severe abdominal cramping, fainting, or confusion. "Call 911 if you faint from nausea or vomiting, and go to the ER if you aren't able to keep food down," Hanauer advises. It's important to find out the cause of your discomfort. "Medications, opioids, inflammation of the stomach and intestine, and brain disorders can cause it," he says. For milder symptoms, such as nausea due to morning sickness, eating low-fat foods that are easy on the stomach or drinking ginger ale may help to ward off cold sweats, a sour stomach, and dizziness. Here are some foods that may help.

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