Is Orange Juice Good For A Flu

Best Thing To Drink When Sick 13 Easy Healing Beverage Ideas

No liquid will magically make your symptoms disappear in a snap. But these libations are good for your body and wont cause nasty side effects . And they can help revive your spirits, too.

When Im feeling under the weather, I typically dont want to make complicated foods and drinks. So these suggestions are not only healthy and comforting but also quick and easy, too. Try these home remedies for cold and flu and see if they help you.

Orange Juice Sales Surge

As the hard flu season continues, the Wall Street Journal reports that orange juice sales have seen an unexpected spike, rising 0.9% in the four weeks that ended Jan. 20

The beverage is often touted for its presumedif unsupportedimmune-boosting benefits, but over the past decade orange juice consumption has fallen, as consumers became more wary of the drink’s high sugar content, the Journal reports. In addition, environmental factors have led to increases in the price of oranges, making orange juice less cost-competitive when compared with other beverages.

In fact, according to Nielsen, the sales surge this year marks the first year-over-year increase for orange juice in almost five yearsthough analysts say the trend will not last much longer than the flu season itself. That said, it’s not the first time orange juicers have benefited from a rough flu season: Sales of orange juice grew 8% during the 2009 swine flu pandemic, the Journal reports.

Best Foods For Fighting The Flu

You got the flu shot. You’ve been washing your hands. But, despite your best efforts, you’ve been knocked out by the flu. You may not feel like eating at all, but there are some foods that will help during your illness and on your way to recovery. They work for colds, as well.

When you have a fever, drink fluids to avoid dehydration

With a fever, appetite is low , and most important is to remain hydrated. A good rule of thumb is to check your urine, which is pale yellow in the adequately hydrated state. If you are getting dehydrated, it will be deep yellow in color. This visible test is the easiest way to make sure you get enough fluids, even when you don’t feel like eating.

While water is optimal, many people don’t like the plain taste when sick. If so, mix with 100 percent fruit juices, or add chunks of oranges, lemons, or limes to flavor. Juice alone is fine, and orange juice is a great choice , along with grapefruit or cranberry juice, all rich in vitamin C. If you’re not a fruit lover, try a glass of V8 or tomato juice. To keep your salt and water balance even, you can lose salt with sweating/fever, choose Gatorade, Powerade or other sports drinks for both fluids and salt.If it tastes too strong, just water it down.

Because symptoms vary, you need to pay attention to how you feel and eat, accordingly. Much is based on personal preference. For example, with hot or cold foods/fluids. This is personal choice: Cold can refresh Hot can soothe .

For diarrhea

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Can Drinking Fruit Juice Help You Get Over The Stomach Flu

The stomach flu, or viral gastroenteritis, is often accompanied by some nasty symptoms â vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and sometimes fever, according to the National Institutes of Health . Drinking plenty of fluids is important for staying hydrated when you have the stomach flu, but some types of fluids may be better than others.

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So where does fruit juice fall? Here’s what you should know about drinking fruit juice when you’re sick, as well as some suggestions for other liquids that may help you feel better.

Orange Juice Is Making A Big Comeback Thanks To The Flu

Thanks, flu!

Lets say youre drinking something while reading this. Assuming its not water, well guess that youre probably drinking a LaCroix. Or maybe its one of those new-fangled Diet Coke flavors. Or perhaps its a complicated Starbucks beverage order.

What youre probably not drinking is orange juice. We feel good about assuming this because the glory days for OJ are long over. According to Nielsen, retail U.S. orange juice market declined by 50 percent between 200102 and 201617. Making things worse for orange growers is that the orange juice market is declining at an increasing rate in recent years. It seemed like it was only a matter of time before the industry was decimated.

However, the orange juice market recently got a big boost in the form of an old adversary. The worst flu outbreak in nearly a decade. Because people still think that drinking OJ is a good way to fight a cold, orange juice sales spiked for the first time in five years last month thanks to conventional thinking. The increase of 0.9 percent in gallons produced between the end of December and January 20 has people rethinking the viability of the classic beverage choice.

It took one of the worst flu seasons on record to get more Americans guzzling orange juice again

The Wall Street Journal

If the orange juice industry does start to fade away once again as this strain of the flu recedes, just know that its your health, and not millennials, who are killing it.

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Is Orange Juice Good For The Flu

To some extent, yes. It is not a magic cure-all. So note that orange juice is not a remedy for the flu or cold. Though it reduces symptoms by 85%, its only in experimental megadoses of 1000mg of vitamin C. Over 13 times the RDI!

However, incorporating it into your diet helps to boost your immune system over time. Its like building blocks. A cup serving of orange juice contains 124 mg of vitamin C, which is well over 100% RDI. By giving the vitamin C time to strengthen your defenses, you can perhaps reduce the duration of a cold.

Treat Aches And Fever

Got fever? Thatâs because your body has turned up the heat to fight off the flu virus.

You may want to treat it if you are uncomfortable or have any of the aches that come with it. with over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Ask your doctor which is right for you.

Never give aspirin to anyone younger than 19. Itâs linked to a condition known as Reye’s syndrome, a serious illness that can damage the brain and liver.

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Tomato Tea A Satisfying Dose Of Healing And Nutrients

Sometimes, when youre ill, convincing yourself to eat can be hard. Drinking tomato tea can help you get a little more nutrition into your body.

Though tomato tea takes a few more steps than these other suggestions, its worth it. And even better, it tastes great.

To make tomato tea, combine a couple of blended tomatoes or 2 cups of tomato juice , 2-3 cloves of crushed garlic, and some hot sauce in a pan and heat until warm. Fold in a dash of fresh lemon juice before consuming. Drink throughout the day.

You Could Be Eating More Beneficial Foods Instead

If you want to get some micronutrients in, stick to actually peeling an orange. Or try some other Vitamin C heavy foods like broccoli or red bell peppers. You’ll get some added fiber, so you can make it part of a meal.

If you’re not into vegetables, chop up some garlic for a pasta dish They act as a natural antibiotic and provide the most antioxidants when eaten raw.

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How To Treat It

If you have hypoglycemia, you need to have food or a drink that is a fast-acting carbohydrate. Good sources include fruit juice, regular soda, glucose tablets, or glucose gel. A good rule of thumb is to eat or drink 15 grams of carbohydrate, wait 15 minutes, and then test your blood again. If your blood glucose is still lower than 70 mg/dl, take another 15 grams and test again 15 minutes later. Although you may feel like you want to eat more, be aware that eating too much can send your glucose too high.

CARBS IN A HURRY

There are about 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate in:

• 4 ounces of juice or soda

• 8 ounces of skim milk

• 56 Life Savers candies

If you use glucose tabs or gel, check the package, because doses vary from brand to brand.

A person who passes out from hypoglycemia should not be given food or drink. Instead, he or she needs a shot of glucagon. If your health care provider thinks that you may be at risk of a severe low, you will be given a prescription for a glucagon kit, which you should have with you at all times. Your friends, family, and other people around you, like a coworker or coach, will need to learn how to give you a glucagon shot if you are unable to treat yourself. If you have a severe low and glucagon is not available, someone must call 911.

Other Ways To Support Your Immune System

In addition to including vitamin C-rich foods in your diet, there are some other simple ways that you can aid your immune system in fighting off a cold, the flu, or other infections:

• Get 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep every night
• Limit or avoid alcohol
• Participate in regular physical activity
• Make sure that you have adequate levels of other important nutrients , and supplement if needed
• Add prebiotic-rich fruits and vegetables to your diet
• Manage stress

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My Stage 3 Adrenal Fatigue Recovery Story

When I first transitioned to the online model a few years ago, it was like working two full-time jobs for about a year. I was running a full private practice and managing a team, building two TV shows, and building an entirely new set of online courses and a brand new business model.

I get tired just thinking about it.

That time period in my life depleted most of the cortisol I had in my poor adrenal glands and I had hit a wall called stage III adrenal exhaustion.

Insomnia, tired but wired, kind of depressed and a little bit anxious most of the time for no reason, no appetite, and no energy to exercise or do the things I usually enjoy.

If youve ever experienced adrenal exhaustion, you know it can take its toll on every aspect of your life.

So I sought out help and support to keep me accountable as I pulled myself out of this chronic stress cycle.

I worked with Jeanne Rubin at East West Healing and Performance because I really liked her approach to heal a broken metabolism using only food, hardly any supplements and no lab work. I already knew what supplements to take and what my lab values were, I just needed to put myself first for a little while and to focus on using food as my medicine 6 times a day, every time I ate.

Only when I got past our first launch of our three-month online nutrition program and closed my private practice did the external stressors let up.

This is why The Adrenal Healing Creamsicle that Jeanne recommended to me literally saved me .

Juice Recipe Perfect For An Underactive Thyroid

If youre not a big fan of smoothies, you might want to try juices. These are easier to consume along with your meals given that they arent as thick as smoothies. Here is an easy recipe for a juice you could have at home:

Watercress Green Juice

• 2 cups of watercress leaves and stems
• 2 red or green apples
• a squeeze of lemon juice

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Does Orange Juice Help Boost The Immune System

No, not quite. There isnt a simple solution to boosting the immune system. The immune system is a complex network that protects the body from pathogens from our skin acting as a barrier, our stomach acid killing bacteria, and white blood cells fighting off infection.

A healthy lifestyle is the best way to support the immune system, enabling it to function at its best. This means eating a healthy well-balanced diet, including fruits and vegetables to help meet your micro-nutrient needs. Additionally, excessive consumption of sugar can suppress the immune system. So, a sugary glass or two of orange juice might not be all that it is cracked up to be!

Echinacea Tea Powerful And Proven To Shorten The Cold And Flu

Want to shorten the length of your cold or flu and reduce your sore throat, cough and fever? Of course you do.

And echinacea is backed by science to do all those things. In fact, echinacea may be more powerful than commonly prescribed flu medications.

When should you sip this powerful flower? Studies have shown that drinking echinacea tea at the first signs of the cold or flu can reduce the severity and duration of your sickness.

And then, you probably want to keep drinking echinacea. Studies have proven it to increase immune activity and to keep a cold from returning.

You can find echinacea tea bags or simmer the root for at least 10 minutes.

Some herbalists and researchers recommend not taking echinacea for longer than two to eight weeks consecutively. They believe that if you take echinacea for a long period, it could actually be harmful to your immune system.

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You Might Be Increasing Your Added Sugar Intake

Not all orange juices are the same, Rose says. Many products contain added sugar, so she recommends looking for juices made from 100% oranges or 100% orange juice concentrate.

Its important to read the nutrition facts label and ingredients section on the package, Ben-Asher says. It should not contain any added sugars, and sugar or other sweeteners should not appear in the ingredient section.

The Best Food And Drinks To Fight The Cold And Flu

Theres nothing fun about having a cold or the flu. Weak muscles, headaches, a stuffy nose and feeling sick to your stomach is common for both conditions.

The symptoms will also leave you begging for a quick fix or relief. But according to the experts, just drinking water is not enough to rebound quickly from a nasty bug.

Your body is under stress from the infection, Zhaoping Li, director of the Center of Human Nutrition at the University of California-Los Angeles, told The Huffington Post. We need to repair or support .

Luckily, there are a handful of foods and drinks that may help bolster and replenish your body while it fights the good fight. HuffPost looked into some of the best ones and why they work. Check them out below:

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Take Action For Your Health And Get Well Asap

If you want, you can combine many of these beverage ideas like green tea brewed with ginger and a squeeze of lemon. Or hot chocolate made with brewed astragalus.

Whatever steps you take, remember to hold yourself with care. Being sick is no fun and being mean to yourself only adds insult to injury.

You deserve love and care all the time and especially when youre feeling low. So snuggle up, sip something healthy, and with any luck, youll be feeling better soon.

Worst Foods For Cold And Flu

If you order a cup of chicken soup the moment you so much as sniffle, you’re not alone. While we are not denying the disease-busting benefits of certain foods, unfortunately eating the right things is only half of the battle when it comes to getting better faster. If you want to make sure you are feeling back to normal in no time, there are also a variety of foods and beverages you should be avoiding.

Even picks that are normally healthy, such as some types of fish and a couple kinds of fresh vegetables, may not be the best choice when your nose is running or you can’t seem to stop coughing. If you really want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to get rid of your cold or flu, keep reading for a list of each meal, drink, and snack you should avoid.

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Youll Get A Healthy Amount Of Potassium

Orange juice also contains potassium, which is necessary for your bodys cells to function. Potassium helps regulate your heartbeat, keeps nerves and muscles functioning well, synthesizes protein, and metabolizes carbohydrates. It can also lower your risk for high blood pressure.

Drinking too much orange juice could add too much potassium to your diet, though. Ben-Asher says this could cause the condition hyperkalemia, which occurs when your blood potassium levels get too high. In extreme cases, the condition could affect the heart and cause chest pain, heart palpitations, muscle weakness, abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea.