Stomach bug what should i eat

A person can ease into a bland diet as they feel ready for food. Generally, with the BRAT diet, a person can incorporate additional foods back into their diet as they feel better.

Learn more about the BRAT diet here. A person can eat boiled starches when they have diarrhea. Boiled starches can include foods such as:. Both diarrhea and vomiting can cause a person to lose a lot of liquids. Drinking fluids that contain electrolytes can help prevent dehydration.

To help prevent dehydration, older children and adults can drink sports drinks such as Gatorade. These can make diarrhea symptoms worse. Learn how to tell if a product has too much sugar here. 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. Here are 7 evidence-based health benefits of drinking water. Electrolytes are minerals that are involved in many essential processes in your body.

This article takes a detailed look at electrolytes, their…. While peppermint tea is often drunk for its flavor, it may also have several positive effects on health. Here are 12 science-backed benefits of…. Ginger has powerful medicinal properties.

Here are 11 health benefits of ginger such as its anti-inflammatory effects that are supported by…. Drinking enough water can help you burn fat and increase your energy levels.

This page explains exactly how much water you should drink in a day. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Here are 17 foods and drinks for when you have the stomach flu.

Share on Pinterest. Ice chips. Summary Ice chips help you take in water slowly, which your body may tolerate better in the early stages of the stomach flu. Clear liquids. Summary Clear liquids are easily digested and help replenish fluids lost due to diarrhea and vomiting. Electrolyte beverages.

Summary Electrolyte beverages provide fluids and replenish important minerals lost during the stomach flu. Peppermint tea. Summary Several studies suggest that smelling peppermint may alleviate nausea, though more research is needed on peppermint and the stomach flu specifically.

Broth-based soups. Summary During the stomach flu, broth-based soups are an ideal transition to solid foods, as they provide plenty of fluids and electrolytes.

Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Summary Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast are safe foods to try while sick with the stomach flu. Dry cereal, crackers, and pretzels. Plain potatoes. Summary Plain potatoes are easily digested and rich in potassium, an important electrolyte that can become depleted during the stomach flu.

Low-fat poultry and meat. Lean choices include: skinless, white meat cuts of chicken and turkey extra-lean ground chicken, turkey, and beef low-fat cold cuts lunch meat , such as chicken, turkey, and ham extra-lean cuts of beef, such as top sirloin and eye of round steak pork chops with the fat trimmed off Avoid frying the meat and instead opt for baking, roasting, or grilling to help keep the fat content low and prevent further aggravating your upset stomach. Most medical experts do not recommend fasting or following a restricted diet when you have diarrhea.

This is to help your body restore its energy and to regain its lost fluids, nutrients and electrolytes. Your gage will be how well you tolerate food. When your stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea have fully or partially subsided, you may feel up to eating again. The goal is to reintroduce bland foods that are easy for your stomach to digest. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Plus, their high starch content will help bind your stool together, which may reduce bouts of continued diarrhea.

BRAT foods are considered low-residual, meaning they stay in your stomach for less time. Here are some additional foods that may help get your appetite and strength back. These can be much harder for your stomach to digest than the bland BRAT diet. You may want to be cautious of dairy products, even with probiotics, since they may irritate your stomach. I would also caution you against eating a big meal. Instead, start slowly with small meals to see how your stomach handles the food.

The bottom line is to use common sense. Your doctor will likely diagnose gastroenteritis based on symptoms, a physical exam and sometimes on the presence of similar cases in your community. A rapid stool test can detect rotavirus or norovirus, but there are no quick tests for other viruses that cause gastroenteritis.

In some cases, your doctor may have you submit a stool sample to rule out a possible bacterial or parasitic infection. There's often no specific medical treatment for viral gastroenteritis. Antibiotics aren't effective against viruses, and overusing them can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

Treatment initially consists of self-care measures. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. To help keep yourself more comfortable and prevent dehydration while you recover, try the following:. When your child has an intestinal infection, the most important goal is to replace lost fluids and salts. These suggestions may help:.