Infants should get at least as much fluid and nutrition as usual. Do not water down formula. This can take it longer for the infant to recover. It also does not have enough nutrition. Infants should not be fed salty foods or drinks. Infants may be given an oral rehydration solution ORS at the start of diarrhea. Regular feedings should still be given with the ORS. Special Steps for Children Children should eat normally to maintain nutrition.
Follow these steps: Do not withhold food. Give small amounts of fluid often. Avoid sugary drinks, like fruit juices, fruit drinks, soft drinks, or sports drinks. Offer foods a child normally eats. Avoid foods that make symptoms worse. Give smaller, more frequent meals. Children may be given an ORS. It may help prevent dehydration Special Steps for Adults Adults should follow these steps: A person who is vomiting should let their stomach settle before eating.
Drinking too much at once can make vomiting worse. Start with soft, bland foods before moving on to solids. Eat small meals more often. Viral gastroenteritis.
Cancer Care. Norovirus — the most common stomach flu virus — results in 19—21 million cases each year in the United States alone 1. The primary symptoms of the stomach flu include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramping, and abdominal pain 2.
Fortunately, some foods and beverages may help settle your stomach, prevent further complications, and help you bounce back faster.
The most common complication of the stomach flu is dehydration 3. When the virus strikes you, it can be difficult to keep anything down, including water and other liquids. Though hydration is crucial when faced with this illness, drinking too much at once may worsen nausea and vomiting.
Sucking on ice chips is a great place to start, as it prevents you from consuming liquids too quickly. This may help you keep fluids down and stay better hydrated in the early stages of the stomach flu 4. Ice chips help you take in water slowly, which your body may tolerate better in the early stages of the stomach flu.
Diarrhea and vomiting are the main symptoms of the stomach flu. Clear liquids are mainly composed of water and carbs, making them easy to digest. Some options are:. Plus, avoid giving them to infants and young children without professional guidance, as they may worsen diarrhea 5 , 6 , 7.
Electrolytes are a group of electrically-charged minerals that aid critical bodily functions, such as blood pressure regulation and muscle contraction 8 , 9. Replacing lost fluids and electrolytes is the cornerstone of stomach flu treatment At the first onset of diarrhea and vomiting, health professionals often recommend oral rehydration solutions, especially for infants and children.
These contain water, sugar, and electrolytes in specific proportions that are easy to digest 11 , 12 , Sports drinks are another option to help replenish fluids and electrolytes but are typically higher in sugar.
Researchers suggest that they may be just as effective as oral rehydration solutions at treating dehydration in adults Electrolyte beverages provide fluids and replenish important minerals lost during the stomach flu.
Peppermint tea may help relieve stomach flu symptoms. In fact, just the smell of peppermint may reduce nausea Other studies suggest that smelling peppermint oil may help decrease episodes of diarrhea in those with irritable bowel syndrome IBS While studies on the benefits of peppermint tea for stomach flu specifically are lacking, there is little to lose by trying it.
Several studies suggest that smelling peppermint may alleviate nausea, though more research is needed on peppermint and the stomach flu specifically. Ginger is commonly used to alleviate nausea, a primary symptom of the stomach flu Though research on ginger for nausea during the stomach flu specifically is lacking, several studies have found that ginger helped reduce nausea due to pregnancy, cancer treatment, and motion sickness 19 , 20 , Ginger is available fresh, as a spice, or as an ingredient in teas, ginger ale, and candies.
Meanwhile, concentrated amounts of this spice can be found in syrups, capsules, and tinctures Foods to eat Pastas Rice Lean meats prepared with little fat Low-fat cooked fish Eggs Fresh fruits, or fruits canned in their own juice Cooked vegetables Sugar-free cereals Bread You can eat the following foods if you tolerate them well or if they are lactose free: low-fat yogurt; low-fat cheese; milk.
Related Gastroenteritis stomach flu Hydrating and rehydrating when you have gastroenteritis. Last update: January 8, Notice Information on the website in no way replaces the opinion of a health professional. Was the information on this page useful to you? Did you encounter any problems while navigating?
In terms of food, saltine crackers can be a good way to replace electrolytes. Learn more about electrolytes in food here. Oral rehydration solutions, which contain glucose and electrolytes, are another good way of rehydrating the body if it has lost liquids due to stomach flu.
To make an oral rehydration solution at home, boil 1 liter of water, add half a small spoon of salt and six level small spoons of sugar, and dissolve. The World Health Organization WHO state that this method is most effective at preventing or delaying diarrhea caused by dehydration but that people should not use it as their sole method of treating it. A great way to include liquids in the diet that give more flavor is to consume healthy teas.
A recent review found that many studies show the positive effects of ginger tea in reducing nausea. However, the review authors did go on to say that more studies are necessary to confirm this. Another review suggested that, in trials, peppermint tea has also helped many people with nausea, regardless of age. Although they described this as encouraging, the reviewers did mention that they cannot draw definitive conclusions until they have more evidence from further trials.
A healthy way to introduce non-refined sugar into the diet, as well as rehydrating, is by eating fruits. Fruits contain high percentages of water, and some have a higher percentage than most, including:. The above list includes only raw fruits as solid food. People should be careful when choosing fruit juices to ensure that they do not contain excessive amounts of sugar.
Learn more about hydrating foods here. Sometimes, a doctor may advise a person to consume probiotics. These contain bacteria that are healthy for the stomach and can help treat diarrhea.
Learn more about including probiotics in a healthy diet here. According to the NIDDK , there are several foods and beverages that a person should avoid to help prevent additional or worsening symptoms of stomach flu. To help treat stomach flu, a person should try to concentrate on consuming fluids to avoid dehydration.
However, there are some other methods that may help. Dehydration, along with the illness itself, can cause fatigue. A person with stomach flu should get plenty of rest.
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