I have had the flu......for the first time in my more than 60 years of life. And it is SO much more than just a heavy cold. I am very aware my stamina is much reduced. I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations for foods/nutrients to increase my stamina ? Please note I am not asking for foods to boost my immune system
Thank you
Sorry to read you have had flu, Tashanie - very debilitating.
A quick google search yielded this from wikihow
For long-lasting energy, doctors also recommend having up to a third of your diet be composed of starches and carbohydrates (whole wheat varieties are preferable).
- To keep your body steadily supplied with energy throughout get energy by eating several smaller meals throughout the day rather than one or two large meals.
Hi,
Yes, I'd recommend porridge, chicken soup (homemade is best if you can) almond or cashew butter on toast, lamb if you eat red meat, plain live yoghurt with berries... ..not a nutritionist, just someone who has had a couple of bad bouts of flu! Good luck..:)
For long-lasting energy, doctors also recommend having up to a third of your diet be composed of starches and carbohydrates (whole wheat varieties are preferable).
I don't think there's any actual evidence of this, is there? Doctors recommend many things (particularly around food) for which there's no evidence.
I am not sure there is much evidence for anything round food tbh. Even the RDA's are population based....and don't get me going on the famous 5 a day.......which probably should be 7 a day.....but is actually weight based so the 5 a day is for a 50kg person and most of use should be having 10 a day or more.........
Having the energy to make homemade chicken soup or indeed do much home cooking would be nice. But it wasn't so much food advice I was after as specific nutrients that could be useful I am actually considering taking a multivitamin for the first time in DECADES simply to see if helps.
Can I make another suggestion if you are considering supplements? There is a tonic called Floradix (the iron and vitamin one) which I've found very helpful in the past. You can get it at Holland and Barrett, I've found it to be really good.
Had flu last week. I noticed my desire for simple carbs was greatly increased so did just that. Om nom nom nom!
GWS!
Well I have just had a call from the GP. Some weeks back I had blood tests done because I was getting cramps which could be connected with parathyroid problems. They have just rung me to tell my vitamin D levels are low so I am being started on Vitamin D. Since one of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency is extreme fatigue (which I had before I had flu) I am guessing once I start treatment my stamina will improve....
Well I have just had a call from the GP. Some weeks back I had blood tests done because I was getting cramps which could be connected with parathyroid problems. They have just rung me to tell my vitamin D levels are low so I am being started on Vitamin D. Since one of the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency is extreme fatigue (which I had before I had flu) I am guessing once I start treatment my stamina will improve....
I guess you know that we make Vit D by being in sunlight? If you can find it..... 😉
Sadly I wouldn't make enough just by getting in sunlight..
I assume you have considered the fact that Vit D is fat soluble. If you are on a low fat diet, your body may not process Vit D well - either from the sun or from supplements.
I guess you know that we make Vit D by being in sunlight? If you can find it..... 😉
Careful on the wording there. Too many people out there seem to believe that you just need to go out in sunlight to get vitamin D. A simple hint for those people... Sunlight is NOT vitamin D and contains none.
What the sunlight does is synthesize the vitamin D that we have consumed in our diet so that our body can use it. So before going out in sunlight you at least need to make sure you're getting enough vitamin D in your diet, otherwise, you'll just get a suntan. 😉
I assume you have considered the fact that Vit D is fat soluble. If you are on a low fat diet, your body may not process Vit D well - either from the sun or from supplements.
I used to work as part of a nutrition team in hospital years ago. I do know a bit about vitamins, micronutrients, and nutrition generally.
I'm not on a particularly low fat diet. I enjoy cheese and cook with olive oil, and I eat butter at times!!!!
It could be something totally different, of course. Studies of Canadian Inuit (diet of 70 -80% fat and 20 - 30% protein, no fruit or vegetables, and hardly any daylight for half the year) showed no mineral or vitamin deficiency at all.
I don't think many people brought up on a 'modern, western' diet would enjoy seal blubber though;)
It could be something totally different, of course. Studies of Canadian Inuit (diet of 70 -80% fat and 20 - 30% protein, no fruit or vegetables, and hardly any daylight for half the year) showed no mineral or vitamin deficiency at all.
I don't think many people brought up on a 'modern, western' diet would enjoy seal blubber though;)
Yuck.....I agree!!!
The RDA's and normal levels are based on statistics......We know that these levels of vitamins and minerals in the diet tend to keep most people healthy. There are very few cases where know for sure that if your drop below that intake or that level you will become ill.
I find it interesting, however, that so many who are eating a diet traditional for their people (of whom the Inuit are only one) have an intake of fruit and vegetables that is approaching zero and yet have NO vitamin or mineral deficiencies. No heart disease, strokes, diabetes or cancer, either. We haven't got this 'healthy eating' thing right.
I find it interesting, however, that so many who are eating a diet traditional for their people (of whom the Inuit are only one) have an intake of fruit and vegetables that is approaching zero and yet have NO vitamin or mineral deficiencies. No heart disease, strokes, diabetes or cancer, either. We haven't got this 'healthy eating' thing right.
Of course we haven't. But we will at some point. For now even the scientists chnage their mind every day on what we should eat. And that's ok, everytime we get new information we have to change our conclusion too.
Actually, from my reading on this, scientists aren't 'changing their minds'. The basic arguments are between Low-carb, high fat (many researchers, much evidence) and Low-fat, high carb (few researchers, little evidence).
This is pretty much how it stays. New research continually backs up what many researchers have been saying since the late 1800s - that more fat and fewer carbs seems to be healthier - then the popular media cherry-pick these reports (often to pour scorn on them) and drag in a spokesperson from the NHS (in the UK) or the AHA (in the US) to tell us that low-fat, high carb is best, because - well, usually the reason boils down to 'we've been saying it for years, so it must be right'.
I have had the flu......for the first time in my more than 60 years of life.
Incidentally, Sally, me too. To the extent that I'm stuck in bed (thank goodness for lap-tops!) and the doctor had to do a home visit - haven't had one of those for years.
Actually, mine isn't flu it's a chest infection - the doctor's threatening hospital, but I think my healing spirits and I can probably steer clear of that.:(
I have had the flu......for the first time in my more than 60 years of life. And it is SO much more than just a heavy cold. I am very aware my stamina is much reduced. I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations for foods/nutrients to increase my stamina ? Please note I am not asking for foods to boost my immune system
Thank you
Soup, porridge, daal
A quick google search yielded this
Hope it helps, Tashanie! 
I hope Tash is fully recovered - her OP was in 2015!!
I hope Tash is fully recovered - her OP was in 2015!!
I was just following on from the previous recent post...i.e. didn't think to check the date!