What to Eat When You Have the Flu?
It’s hard to believe, but even the Jack of All Blogs gets sick.
Bed-ridden over the past few days, the flu bug has me in its grips and has wreaked havoc on my body. What was once an entry point has become an exit.
Thirty-six consecutive hours in bed and lots of H2O seems to have done the trick. I’m still a bit weak, but strong enough to write about my disappointment in the Internet. You see, I expect blogs and Websites and forums to answer any question I can conjure up. So why is it, in my 102-degree-fever state, could I not find a single list of foods that are good to eat when you have the flu?
I know it’s important to stay hydrated. And yes, I know it’s all about starving a fever. But why was a simple list of FOODS TO EAT WHEN YOU HAVE THE FLU so difficult to find?
First stop, Yahoo! Answers. A query of “eat” and “flu” yielded ZERO results. Perhaps it was the fever, but for the first time in my life I clicked on a Google AdSense ad that appeared on the page. It led me to RightHealth.com and didn’t give me a shred if decent info, just a page littered with links.
Prevention, the health magazine with “smart ways to live well” made me sicker. It started with their top banner ad hawking salad and grilled chicken that made my stomach turn. Then there was the advice on eating shellfish and milk. These are clearly pre-emptive measures, but that doesn’t stop Google from turning it up first for “What to Eat Flu.”
Reader’s Digest recommended Vitamin C, oatmeal, bananas, fish, chicken, turkey, apples, cranberries and tomato sauce. I’m sure these items are loaded with nutrients, but when I’m sick and nauseous, I ask myself a simple question: “How will it taste coming up?”
WebMD shared 10 tips to cope with the flu and I immediately took issue with tip #1.
“Get rest and watch DVDs.”
My head hurt so bad that watching TV or staring at the computer monitor for more than five minutes was not an option. This isn’t horrendous advice for day two or three, but it’s darn obvious.
And speaking of obvious, in the end, the Internet didn’t have the answer. I did.
– Drink tons of room-temperature water – Stay in bed – Don’t eatThat should be the advice that search engines and their algorithms pick up. The Internet might be made of machines, but the sickly flu advice definitely shows that there is no dot com cure-all.
Now please excuse me, I feel… a little… ill…
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Aw, I don’t mean to laugh at your expense, but this blog made me chuckle. I do, however, find it weird that Yahoo Answers didn’t have any advice for you…if you checked on FunAdvice, you’d see we have some suggestions for ya (http://www.funadvice.com/q/are_there_home_remedies_for_stomach). Next time, try us
Dara said this on January 25, 2008 3:45 pm
Thank you for saving me a load of time; I was just beginning a search for what to eat when you’ve got the flu. I’m not even going to bother looking anymore. However, I am going to venture out to Safeway. I’ve got an inexplicable longing for leafy greens.
hillaryloves said this on March 4, 2008 2:26 am
I searched for the same thing. I’m breaking down for pizza. I have a 106 fever that finally dropped to 102 after 1,000mg of Ibuprofen, three popsicles, and pardon me “getting naked”—even with chills. I felt like passing out. I wanted to eat, but I just could not stand long enough to make broth—much less actually drink it. I hope I don’t puke the pizza—my body is starved—I’m very petite.
Wish you well—nice blog.
I feel sick looking at the screen—small intervals only.
Maine Medical Blog said this on March 7, 2008 9:25 am
Aw you pour thing! What you should try (and many a site should have mentioned this) is the BRAT diet
and no, I am not insulting youof Bananas, rice, applesauce and dry toast. It is very bland and very ‘binding’. It works well for all ailments of the GI tract.Thought you would like to know for future episodes -hopefully not soon
Miss Moneypenny said this on March 29, 2008 12:24 am