• Experts say the best way to treat viral gastroenteritis — aka the stomach flu — is to focus on staying hydrated by eating ice chips, low-carbohydrate fruits, and drinking enough of h2o.
  • Once you experience ready to eat solid food, showtime with items that are simple to digest like toast, crackers, white rice, and steamed potatoes. After that, y'all can endeavor adding more than complex carbs and poly peptide from foods like oatmeal and hard-boiled eggs.
  • When you're recovering from the tum flu, spicy, high-fat, sugary, acidic foods and drinks, java, and alcoholic beverages should be avoided.
  • This commoditywas medically reviewed past Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, diet and wellness skillful with a private do based in New York City.
  • Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice.

Viral gastroenteritis — usually known every bit the tummy flu — is an infection of the intestines that involves inflammation of the lining of the stomach, and can cause such unpleasant symptoms as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hurting, cramping in the belly, and sometimes fever.

You can contract this illness in several different ways: By having straight contact with another infected person, past eating foods or drinking liquids that are contaminated, or past touching surfaces or objects that are contaminated before touching your mouth.

Like other viral infections, the stomach flu tin can't be treated with antibiotics, merely well-nigh people with good for you immune systems volition go better on their ain inside ane to three days. Experts say the best way to treat viral gastroenteritis is to focus on hydration, but it can be difficult to get plenty fluids or keep nutrient down when you're feeling nauseous, experiencing bouts of vomiting, or dealing with tum pain.

Here are some foods and fluids that experts say are easier on the stomach and may help with nausea that you tin eat with the stomach flu.

What to eat when you lot have the stomach flu

When you lot feel ready to introduce solid foods dorsum into your diet, Sashini Seeni, MBBS, a general practitioner at DoctorOnCall, recommends starting slowly with small portions of easy-to-digest foods.

The Brat nutrition

White rice consist of unproblematic carbs that are easy to assimilate and gentle on the gut.
Sritakoset/Getty Images

BRAT (bananas, rice, absurdity, and toast) has long been a popular strategy for managing gastrointestinal symptoms of the breadbasket influenza, especially in children. Withal, the diet lacks many key nutrients like protein, fat, and vitamins A and B12 so information technology doesn't offer optimal diet for your recovering gut and should not exist followed for more than a few days, says Sashini Seeni, MBBS, a general practitioner of medicine at DoctorOnCall.

"The Deviling diet for a limited time is unlikely to cause significant side furnishings, but people should avert using the diet in the long term," Seeni tells Insider. "Prolonged use of the Deviling nutrition may atomic number 82 to malnutrition and depression energy."

Ice chips

Water ice chips can keep yous hydrated when you can't go on anything else down.
LYagovy/Getty Images

It's imperative to stay hydrated when y'all have the tummy flu. Withal, if you notice it difficult to swallow plenty liquids without feeling nauseous or airsickness, experts concur that eating ice chips is a not bad style to slowly retain your fluids.

First, run into if your tum can handle ice chips without having an adverse reaction, says Jay Woody, MD, an emergency medicine physician and master medical officer of Intuitive Health. If you've been airsickness, Seeni advises waiting two hours before trying ice chips — so try sucking on minor amounts at first to run into if you lot tin can tolerate them.

Potatoes

Steam your potatoes and avert fatty toppings like butter or sour cream.
Thomas Winz/Getty Images

According to Seeni, plain potatoes are a solid food choice because they're like shooting fish in a barrel to digest and loaded with potassium — an electrolyte that can become depleted during the stomach flu due to vomiting and diarrhea. One medium potato with peel provides  632 mg of potassium, which is 24% of the recommended daily value for women, and 16% of the recommended daily value for men.

The all-time method of cooking your potatoes — or other vegetables — when yous accept the stomach flu is to steam them because information technology breaks down some of the hard-to-assimilate fibers. Also, avoid additives like butter and cheese because they contain fat that may upset your fragile digestive state. Instead, a little table salt and pepper should practice the play a joke on.

Ginger

Try adding a small chunk of ginger to some warm water.
Westend61/Getty Images

Ginger root is known to have antiemetic properties, meaning information technology may help to ease nausea and vomiting. Given that ginger tin can crusade mild abdominal discomfort, heartburn, and gas in some people, it'due south best to offset with a small dose. If you're significant, have gallstone affliction, or take blood-thinning medication, be certain to consult with your physician before taking ginger.

Crackers or pretzels

Crackers contain unproblematic carbs that won't upset your digestion.
Juanmonino/Getty Images

For the same reason that rice and toast are commonly recommended for people with stomach flu, Seeni says crackers and pretzels are a adept choice because they're fabricated upward of uncomplicated carbs that are quickly and hands digested, plus they are low in fat and fiber. That means they're less likely to upset your stomach.

Dry cereal

If you don't have any crackers around, munch on some dry out cereal.
Natalia Ganelin/Getty Images

Since well-nigh cereals are low in fat, gratuitous of spices, and fabricated up of hands digestible uncomplicated carbs, they're relatively gentle on your tum. Moreover, some cereals are fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, which may help y'all to get closer to meeting your daily needs while your gut is recovering.

Since dairy products can make diarrhea worse, and some people recovering from viral gastroenteritis accept problems digesting lactose for up to a month or more later getting sick, it's advisable to consume cereal either dry or with unsweetened nut or oat milk.

Seeni says sugar can exacerbate or trigger diarrhea, so you may want to check the nutrition label showtime to brand certain the cereal has no more than than ten grams of total saccharide and v grams of added sugar per serving. Some proficient options include:

  • Wheaties, 5 grams of carbohydrate per cup
  • Original Cheerios, 1 gram of sugar per loving cup
  • Corn Chex, three.ii grams of sugar per loving cup

Oatmeal

Cook your oats in water, non milk.
Arx0nt/Getty Images

Similar rice, oatmeal is another banal nutrient that's typically like shooting fish in a barrel to tolerate when your tummy is upset. Not just that, only it'due south a good source of soluble fiber, which tin assistance demark and add bulk to your stool when y'all're experiencing diarrhea.

According to The Harvard School of Public Health, the breakdown of oat fiber has been plant to increase the diverseness of gut microbiota, which may meliorate diarrhea, among other digestive issues. To avoid aggravating any potential GI bug, it's best to cook oats in water rather than milk and limit how much saccharide you add together. Proceed in mind that instant or quick-cook oats will be the easiest to assimilate — but if you only have rolled oats or steel-cutting oats, you tin intermission them into smaller pieces in a food processor or soak them overnight.

Fruit

Blackberries are a low-sugar fruit that could be a nice addition to your oatmeal or cereal.
mphillips007/Getty Images

Many fruits incorporate up to 80–ninety% water, which ways that eating them could help your hydration efforts while recovering from the stomach influenza. Fruit also contains a wide variety of vitamins and minerals that can aid to support your immune system, every bit well as repair tissues. However, it'south best to opt for fruits that are low in saccharide to avert aggravating diarrhea. Some general examples of depression-sugar fruits include grapefruits, blackberries, and apples.

Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs contain allowed-boosting nutrients.
milanfoto/Getty Images

Ane of the safest high-protein foods to swallow when y'all have the tummy flu is eggs. To avoid worsening any diarrhea, hard eddy or poach your egg and avoid calculation oil, dairy, or spices.

Eggs are not only high in poly peptide, but they too offer essential nutrients such equally selenium, a mineral that plays an important role in your immune system.

What to drink when you take the breadbasket flu

Fluid loss from symptoms such every bit vomiting and diarrhea tin lead to dehydration — which, if it becomes severe, must exist treated immediately at a hospital. That's why experts say it'due south disquisitional to beverage plenty of the right liquids while recovering. Co-ordinate to Seeni, signs of dehydration include:

  • An intense feeling of thirst
  • Dry mouth and throat
  • Night-colored urine
  • Less frequent urination
  • Dry skin
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness when standing up
  • The inability to sweat

Experts recommend drinking the post-obit liquids when you lot have the breadbasket influenza:

Water

When y'all have the stomach flu, h2o is the most important beverage to swallow.
Prototype Source/Getty Images

Due to its lack of flavor, sugar, or caffeine, experts agree that h2o is by far the best liquid to drinkable when you're recovering from the tum flu.

"Clear liquids such as water are easily digested and help replenish fluids lost due to diarrhea and airsickness," says Seeni. "Wait until ii hours have passed since your final episode of vomiting, and start with small frequent sips."

Broth

A basic broth will non upset you stomach and tin can furnish any sodium you may have lost.
Jennifer A Smith/Getty Images

As you're easing back into eating foods, experts say broth-based soups tin offer an fantabulous transition from a liquid diet while likewise helping y'all to stay hydrated.

Co-ordinate to Seeni, broth tin be a good source of sodium — which is an important electrolyte that's often lost as a result of frequent vomiting and diarrhea. However, Moreno adds that bone, chicken, and beefiness goop alike tin be too high in sodium, which is why he recommends specifically seeking out a depression-sodium option or diluting information technology with water.

Juice

Water down juice with 1:1 ratio of water to juice.
Zuraisham Salleh/Getty Images

While some juices may incorporate a notable concentration of certain vitamins, Moreno warns that many products are high in saccharide, which tin can make diarrhea worse past pulling backlog h2o into the gut. That'south why he recommends mixing a articulate juice — like apple tree juice — with h2o (using a 1:1 ratio) to decrease the sugar content while helping with hydration.

A 2016 study institute that children with a breadbasket issues who tried this strategy were less likely to need 4 rehydration or hospitalization compared to those who consumed electrolyte-enhanced drinks.

Tea

Avert caffeinated teas when y'all're ill because they can dehydrate you.
Westend61/Getty Images

According to Seeni, herbal teas can be constructive for rehydrating during tum influenza. Endeavour to avoid caffeinated teas, which can dehydrate yous further. If you're experiencing nausea, she advises drinking tea with ginger or peppermint — both of which may assist to decrease that particular symptom.

Electrolyte-enhanced drinks

Coconut h2o is a low-sugar pick that's great for drinking when you have the stomach flu.
Wokephoto17/Getty Images

Afterwards experiencing airsickness and diarrhea, Seeni says electrolyte-enhanced drinks similar Pedialyte may exist a expert choice of beverage because information technology has an optimal remainder of sugar and electrolytes.

"If you or your kids are having trouble keeping liquids down, taking pocket-sized sips of Pedialyte would be a skillful start," she says. "After that, increase the amount as much as you are able."

Another example is kokosnoot water, which tin aid your body to rehydrate by supplying fluids while also replenishing of import minerals yous lost, says Seeni. "Replacing lost fluids and electrolytes is the of import treatment of tum influenza. Oral rehydration solutions are often recommended at the showtime onset of diarrhea and vomiting, peculiarly for infants and children," says Seeni.

Although sports drinks aid replenish fluids and electrolytes, some can be high in sugar. Hence, Moreno suggests diluting them with h2o. Moreover, the CDC reports that non-caffeinated sports drinks can assistance with mild dehydration, but they may not replace important nutrients and minerals.

Breast milk for infants

If your baby has the stomach influenza, it's important to keep them hydrated with breast milk or formula.
Steven Errico/Getty Images

Since infants can go dehydrated very quickly, Moreno says it's appropriate to go along supplying them with breast milk while they're recovering from gastroenteritis. Yet, if you're ever uncertain about what your babe can tolerate, he recommends calling your pediatrician for specific guidance.

"Breast milk for infants may assist in fighting diarrhea," Seeni tells Insider. "Since vomiting and diarrhea tin can atomic number 82 to dehydration, they tin can be very dangerous. Breast milk is hands digested and more likely to stay down when your infant is sick."

What foods and drinks to avoid when y'all have the stomach flu

Some foods and drinks tin brand stomach influenza symptoms worse. Here's what experts recommend avoiding:

Apple cider vinegar: According to Moreno and Woody, it's important to stay away from acidic substances, which can irritate your stomach and thus trigger stomach pain, nausea, or other GI symptoms. Apple tree cider vinegar is highly acidic, and then it'south best to do caution in consuming information technology while you have the tummy influenza.

Fat foods: Full-fat dairy products, fried foods, certain types and cuts of red meat, and nut butters can be loftier in fat — which isn't ideal when you have the stomach flu. Since these foods are more than difficult to digest, Moreno advises fugitive them while your gut is recovering.

"High-fat foods could brand yous feel queasy and may lead to diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting," says Seeni. "Also, when sick with the tummy influenza, some people have problems digesting lactose, a protein in milk and milk products."

Spicy foods: You probably won't be in the mood for spicy nutrient when yous accept the tum flu, but in case you have a hankering, it's best to avoid because experts say eating it can worsen gastritis symptoms. You tin gradually reintroduce spices and seasoning as yous begin to recover.

"Gentle spices like cinnamon tin can take anti-inflammatory properties but hot spices could leave y'all running to the bathroom," says Seeni. "Spicy foods may also trigger nausea and vomiting for some people."

Citrus fruit: Due to their loftier acid content, you might want to limit your consumption of citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes — depending on the severity of your symptoms.

Coffee: Since coffee can make your intestines contract, Seeni says to avoid it. She also points out that caffeinated drinks can impair your sleep quality, which may hinder your recovery from the stomach flu.

Alcohol: Alcohol acts equally a diuretic, meaning it causes your body to flush fluids out of your arrangement more quickly. For this reason, Oz recommends staying away from whatsoever alcoholic beverages, as they can further dehydrate you.

Insider'due south takeaway

When you're recovering from the tummy influenza, spicy, high-fatty, sugary, and acidic foods and drinks should be avoided — as should coffee and alcoholic beverages.

"Staying abroad from these foods and drinks volition assist reduce nausea and vomiting, every bit well equally diarrhea, cramping, bloating, and gas," says Woody.

The nearly important thing to focus on while recovering is hydration  — ideally by drinking plenty of water, herbal tea, and other clear or diluted liquids, sucking on ice chips, and consuming broth.

Bland foods like crackers, toast, dry out low-sugar cereal, potatoes, apple sauce, bananas, and rice may also exist tolerable, and yous can slowly introduce foods like fruit, steamed vegetables, and eggs for more nutritional variety.

If you doubtable you demand treatment for dehydration or other astringent symptoms, seek firsthand care from medical professionals.

  • You lot can't sweat out a common cold, and trying to could make information technology harder for you to recover
  • Vitamin C for the common cold is a myth, sort of
  • How long do flu germs live on hard surfaces, fabric, and skin
  • The 6 best drinks to soothe a sore throat and boost your allowed system
  • 5 humidifier benefits: How the portable device may reduce the spread of germs and improve your pare

Rebecca is a freelance writer for Insider.