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No one likes being sick. But, the other thing that not many people often like is eating while they are sick. It is quite common to cross paths with people who are sick with little to no appetite at all. Wondering what foods to eat when sick?
It is important to ensure that you eat and keep yourself pumped with the essential nutrients while you are sick. Your body is consistently fighting off infections and it is important to keep your energy levels up to ensure you don’t end up getting affected terribly.
In here, we are going to be discussing about the various healthy foods to eat when you’re sick and have no appetite.
1. Chicken Soup
The effects of chicken soup (R) are amazing when you are sick and suffering from bad health and even science does have that fact backed up.
The main reason why that is because of the fact that chicken soup is loaded with essential vitamins, minerals as well as the protein which helps you keeps warm as well as healthy all throughout.
Not just that, the combination of the nutrients and the proper liquid helps in keeping your fluid balance in the body in check. It is common for your body to require more liquids when you are sick.
If science is to be considered, it is believed that the presence of cysteine (R) in the chicken soup does have beneficial impacts in breaking apart unnecessary mucus formation and even has effective antiviral, anti-inflammatory as well as effective antioxidant properties.
2. Garlic
Yet another one of the amazing foods to consume while sick is Garlic. The active compound in Garlic, Allicin, is very beneficial in fighting off infection that could be making you sick.
If you have been suffering from cold and flu or even any form of infection, consuming raw garlic or even garlic in your daily diet can help in combating the infection effectively.
The antimicrobial (R) and antioxidant (R) property of the garlic is what helps in combating the infection and thereby helps in your recovery effectively.
3. Ginger
Ginger has been used as a medicine for quite way back in history. If you are here wondering how Ginger is one of the best foods to eat when sick and no appetite is because of its amazing composition.
This specific one does have amazing impacts not just when you are sick with cold and flu but also when down with any form of nausea or digestion issues.
The active compounds (R) (R) in the ginger, Gingerol, paradol as well as shogaol which helps in boosting such amazing impacts in helping the central nervous system as well as the digestive system to bring it back on track, especially when you are sick and suffering.
4. Green tea
Yet another one of the amazing thing to add to what to eat when you have no appetite while sick is Green tea.
It might not necessarily be filling or appetizing but is quite beneficial in warding off your sickness. The main reason behind the same is because of the fact that green tea helps in not just warming you up from the inside, it has other benefits too.
The antioxidative property (R) in the green tea is actually quite beneficial in fighting off any kind of free radical damage in the body which further helps in fighting off the signs of sickness.
5. Coconut Water
Yet another one of the best foods to eat when sick is Coconut Water.
One of the most important factors that one needs to keep in mind when sick is to ensure that they keep themselves well hydrated.
While drinking just water can often get boring, switching to coconut water can actually prove out to be quite beneficial in recovering you from the sickness.
Not only is it pleasant to drink, it is also loaded with essential and effective nutrients and minerals which have amazing impacts on one’s body.
Even studies (R) (R) have shown the efficacy of coconut water when it comes to what to eat when sick and no appetite. It helps rehydrate the body and even helps in settling an upset stomach.
Additionally, coconut water also has beneficial antioxidants (R) (R) which further help the body cope with unnecessary free radical damage which helps in combating the signs of sickness further.
6. Vitamin C rich fruits
Consuming Vitamin C rich fruits is actually an amazing way to combat the unnecessary sickness that many often tend to complain about.
The amazing and beneficial antioxidant (R) property of the vitamin C rich fruits have effective impacts in fighting off the unnecessary free radical damage in the body which further helps in protecting your cells.
Alternatively, Vitamin C also has beneficial impacts in boosting one’s immunity which is quite good to keep the sickness away.
These are often considered healthy foods to eat when you’re sick and no appetite is because of the fact that they are light on the stomach and doesn’t necessarily impact any bad impacts on the body.
When sick, eat some oranges and berries to get in your daily dosage of Vitamin C inside the body.
7. Spicy Foods
Spicy foods as one of the foods to eat when sick might irk a thought in your mind. Trust me; it works magic in contributing to your recovery process.
The main reason why spicy foods are recommended when struggling with sickness is because it helps in decongesting you. The spiciness might not be the best option for your stomach but it helps in making you warm from inside and helps in breaking down any kind of mucus accumulation that could be contributing to making you feel sick.
Some of the basic yet effective things you can add more to your diet to bring in the spiciness includes red chillies, wasabi or even horseradish.
8. Honey
Yet another one of the foods to eat when sick and not appetite is honey. Honey has effective antibacterial and antiviral properties which are quite beneficial in warding off the unnecessary symptoms of sickness that many often struggle with.
Some study (R) has even found honey to be effective in boosting the immune system on the whole.
Even this one is a natural decongestant which gets rid of your cold and cough and contributes to helping you recover effectively. It is effective in treating the dry cough as it soothes down the throat and prevents any kind of scratchiness and pain that often accompanies this condition.
9. Leafy greens
Leafy greens might not be everyone’s favourite but the same is actually one of the best answers when it comes to what to eat when you have no appetite.
Not only are they loaded with beneficial nutrients, the heightened composition of Vitamin C and Vitamin E in these have beneficial impacts in reverting any condition associated with the lack of it in the body.
Not just that, the vitamins also have amazing impacts on the overall immune system in the body and helps boost it for good. If consuming green leafy vegetables is not something you are very comfortable with, it is always best suggested to add them in smoothies and such to not get their taste right off the bat.
10. Crackers and Toast
One of the most common signs of sickness is nausea. It is, for the most part, the nausea, which prevents people from eating well during their sickness.
If you have been suffering from the same, it is always best suggested to avoid eating anything heavy and stick to light toast and crackers because, trust me, they will feel like a 5-star hotel food during that time.
Instead of gorging down food that you can’t stomach and might end up throwing up, it is always best to opt for the ones that won’t end up doing your stomach anything bad.
11. Bananas
If you sweat a lot when you are sick or have been suffering from consistent diarrhea and such, chances are that you are going to be suffering from lack of proper hydration and nutrition levels in the body.
Bananas are loaded with potassium which is often one of the nutrients our body lacks when we are sick. Also, the neutral taste of the bananas is quite easy to stomach and digest when you are sick.
It is believed that bananas help in lowering down the body temperature and helping in replenishing the lost electrolytes in the body.
12. Oatmeal
Much like any of the foods mentioned, consuming oatmeal can also be helpful when you are sick.
The bland and neutral taste of the oatmeal is quite beneficial in not just filling you up but also providing your body with the much needed nutrition all the while you are sick.
It is loaded with essential fibers as well as protein which helps regain your lost strength as well.
Avoid consuming the artificially sweetened oatmeal and stick to the original form of the same and make it from scratch at home.
13. Broccoli
Broccoli is most possibly yet another one of the amazing foods to eat when sick.
It might not taste the best but the benefits of it are quite important if you want to recover quickly from the sickness.
It is loaded with immune boosting Vitamins like Vitamin C and E which have beneficial impacts on the body, helping it fight off the unnecessary infection and microbial attack that could be making you sick.
If eating it steamed or raw is not something you are favouring, you can throw in a couple in the pot of the chicken soup and that itself should get the job done.
14. Yogurt
Yogurt is yet another one of the foods to eat when sick and no appetite.
Yogurt is not just loaded with a good amount of calories; it also has a good amount of protein in it which further helps in boosting the health when you are sick.
Apart from everything, yogurt is also rich in calcium and has quite a good amount of vitamins and minerals in it which further boosts the overall immune system of the body.
The probiotics in the yogurt is also beneficial in warding off signs of cold and cough and keeps your body healthy.
15. Water
It might necessarily not be a food but is quintessential when you are sick.
Keeping yourself hydrated when you are sick is very important. If your hydration levels are not proper, chances are that it might affect your overall health as well. It can even affect your recovery process which is why it is always best suggested to keep yourself hydrated at all times.
When it comes to discussing about the foods to eat when sick, it is important to be very cautious of the things you put into your body. Irrespective of everything, ensure that you stick to the food that you can stomach and not end up throwing up.
