Sick Day Foods!

I have just been extremely sick and it has inspired me to create a list of foods and tips for those days when you're feeling under the weather.

I'm going to list a few items for each common ailment that will not only taste good and be easy to eat but will help you get better! I've also added some tips, tricks and remedies that will help you stay more comfortable and shorten the duration of illness.

The Fever
I found that my favorite here was straight up broth, chicken broth or vegetable broth. It has nutrients and it will sustain you even when your appetite fails. It is best served warm in a mug so it can be sipped. To help you get over being sick you can cook  the broth with lots of garlic and onions finely minced. Garlic and onions have anti-inflammatory properties. For preparation ahead of time use a whole box of broth. Put it over heat until it simmers and add as much garlic and onions as you can stand. Home remedy sites claim that garlic alone can bring down a fever because it soothes the body's response inflammatory response.

With a fever it's especially important that you stay cool and hydrated. Temperatures exceeding 104 degrees can lead to brain damage and seizures. If you find your temperature climbing to 100 or above I recommend deploying the cold pack and wet wash cloth. It may be uncomfortable if you have the chills but it is necessary. As for keeping yourself hydrated you can always make ice cubes out of juice and suck on them. The cold ice will help cool down your insides and the juice part will give you lots of Vitamin C to kick the sick! Make sure your juice doesn't have added sugar or high fructose corn syrup. That's the last thing you need when you're feeling like shit.

The Cold
With a cold it's much less likely that you will lose your appetite so I say we step up the broth recipe and add not only garlic and onions but carrots, spinach and noodles! To help clear your sinuses you can add red pepper flake, jalapenos, whatever you like! Jalapenos have ALOT of Vitamin C and the capzasin (the chemical that makes them spicy) will clear out your sinuses in no time at all. My mom actually eats the pickled jalapenos to prevent colds. If she feels it coming on she makes sure to have a couple with dinner. The amount of garlic, onions, carrots and spinach depends on how soupy you like your soup and how much you're making.

Once again you gotta stay hydrated. Herbal or green tea is a good suggestion. Make a nice big pot and sip on it all day. Just make sure you're getting your fluids. What's even better is juice, good ol juice. Lot's of Vitamin C and electrolytes. Electrolytes are especially important. They are the little molecules that keep the water from running straight through you. That way your body can use the water you drink. The most common of these are Sodium and Potassium. Don't be pulled in by sports drinks though. They are choc-full of sugar, artificial flavors and colors. If you really want a ready made drink then pedialyte is what I've heard is the best choice.

For the congestion I recommend trying a neti pot. If you have a fear of drowning or just hate getting water up your nose then it isn't for you. The neti pot is part of the yoga practice of whole-body well being. It cleanses the nose with a gentle mixture of water and salt. It looks like a little ceramic teapot and is quite cute. You literally pour it in one nostril and let it drain out the other. Getting the head angle just right takes practice though. It can be unpleasant and I still am not used to it but the benefits are great! Some of these benefits: gets rid of nasal congestion, helps with nasal dryness and can help with allergies.

A wonderful remedy is zinc lozenges. They taste like you're sucking on a chalky hunk of metal ore. It's pretty gross. I bought the chewable ones and couldn't bring myself to chew them so I swallowed them whole. Make sure you eat something with them though. I've made myself sick by taking them on an empty stomach. Zinc is wonderful, it naturally boosts the immune system and will help kick the crap.

Diarrhea
Okay I know no one wants to talk about this one. Let's just pretend nobody gets it. But I won't tell if you read this section. Rule #1 for diarrhea: STAY FREAKING HYDRATED! If you do not actively consume electrolytes and water you risk severe dehydration. Dehydration can lead to seizures and all kinds of emergency room fun! Like I mentioned earlier I've heard that for severe diarrhea pedialyte is supposed to be the best over-the-counter product. I already mentioned not to be sucked in by sports drinks and those things. Broth, fruit juice and vegetables are all good for getting your electrolytes naturally. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (Ha!) recommends staying away from dairy, greasy foods, sweet things, nicotine and caffeine. They say that all of these can aggravate your bowels. So DON'T DO IT!

In the Mayo Clinic's Guide to Self-Care they cite that you should have 8-16 glasses of clear liquids. I know it sounds like alot but it's absolutely necessary. Now you can perfect your broth recipe because you'll be drinking and making alot of it! Or if you have a nice partner you can get them to make it for you.

A Note on Hydration: If you happen to own a hydration pack with a large reservoir I totally recommend filling it up and having it next to the couch or your bed or wherever. I did this when I was sick and it was AWESOME. No refilling cups or spilling cups or dropping cups (I have done it all). Just dangle that hose down to where your heads gonna be and you're in business. It's just too convenient to pass up.

Disclaimer to cover my own ass: Now keep in mind, I'm not a doc and I don't have no medical degree. These are simply suggestions that I have found helpful in the past. If you get a fever that reaches 104 degrees, get extremely dehydrated, or think your condition is getting out of control then you must go to the emergency room or your doc. Seriously, don't mess around. If all the hippy dippy natural home remedy stuff doesn't work then get yourself medical attention. SERIOUSLY.