What To Eat, Drink, and Avoid When You Have the Stomach Flu

What’s commonly called stomach flu isn’t usually connected with influenza, a respiratory illness that tends to dominate in the cooler months. Stomach flu is medically called gastroenteritis, an inflammatory condition affecting your stomach and intestines.

However, like influenza, stomach flu can be caused by a virus. Bacteria, food poisoning, or certain chemicals can also cause gastroenteritis. 

The team at Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, offers sick visits and same-day appointments to help if your stomach flu symptoms get severe or complicate another condition. Thankfully, in most cases, your body can handle the illness in a day or two. 

To make your days easier, we’ve prepared a few tips for handling the stomach flu, what to eat and drink, as well as what to avoid to get over the gastroenteritis hump. 

Signs of the stomach flu

Gastroenteritis tends to hit fast and hard with diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, stomach pain, and nausea, sometimes all at once. You may be stuck in the bathroom during the early stages.

Later, systemic symptoms creep in: body aches, chills, fatigue, and fever. You may feel wiped out in short order. While gastroenteritis is rarely serious, those who are vulnerable due to age or physical conditions may need urgent care. 

What to eat, drink, and avoid when you have the stomach flu

You probably won’t have much appetite during a bout of stomach flu, but since the condition can take so much out of you, it’s important to restore energy and fluids to help overcome the illness. 

Dehydration is the biggest threat during stomach flu. Concentrate on replacing the fluids that you lose through diarrhea and vomiting, particularly in the early stages when it’s difficult to hold anything down. 

What to drink for fluid replacement

Consider these options to build and maintain hydration: 

• Ice chips: drinking too much too soon can cause more vomiting
• Broth: broth-based soups provide sodium, an important electrolyte for fighting dehydration
• Electrolyte beverages: use pediatric rehydration products for kids or sports beverages for adults
• Ginger and peppermint tea: to hydrate and ease nausea symptoms

What to eat to maintain energy

Bland foods are perhaps the best way back into solids: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These mild foods are gentle on your stomach. They won’t, however, provide a full nutrient load, so return to a regular diet as soon as you’re able. 

Other gentle food options include: 

• Saltines, dry cereal, and pretzels
• Potatoes, without high-fat toppings
• Boiled eggs
• White meat poultry and other lean meats
• Watery fruits, like cantaloupe, watermelon, peaches, and strawberries

What to avoid to ease symptoms

Keep away from these foods and drinks to avoid triggering nausea and additional vomiting: 

• Fried foods
• High-fat foods
• Milk and milk-based products
• Caffeinated beverages: stick to herbal teas for the duration
• Spicy foods

Any food or drink can worsen stomach flu symptoms, so introduce liquids as soon as you can keep them down, and proceed slowly for best results. 

Contact Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, when you need additional care. Book an appointment online or call our office directly to schedule your visit as soon as necessary. 

We’re conveniently located near Boston and proudly extend our services to communities throughout Norfolk, Plymouth, Bristol, and Providence counties, including Braintree, Canton, Stoughton, Westwood, Norwood, and Walpole. 

Whether you're in Foxborough, Easton, Brockton, or Abington, we're just a short drive away. We also welcome clients from West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater, and Middleborough, as well as Taunton, Norton, Mansfield, and Attleboro. 

Our reach extends to Rehoboth, Somerset, Swansea, Fall River, Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, and even further to Wareham, Plymouth, and Pembroke. Rhode Island residents in Providence, East Providence, and Warwick can also rely on our services.