The body often needs nutritional support in recovery. With the right food, you can help get back on your feet after an illness.

Illness comes – appetite goes. This is a big problem, especially in old age. But not eating anything is not the solution.

Whereas in the past diets were prescribed for diseases of the stomach and intestines, the following applies today:
What tastes good and what is tolerated is allowed.
The shorter a meal stays in the stomach, the more digestible we find it. Chew well, because liquids and pulps pass the stomach quickly.
Steamed food is easier to digest than fried food, rice with vegetables is more digestible than a piece of fatty meat.
Be careful with hot spices such as pepper, curry or paprika!
Do not burden the stomach with large meals, rather eat small portions more often.
And last but not least: Try to calm down – with stress or anger in your stomach, the best food becomes a burden.
We Have all heard this advice over and over again. It is reinforced by doctors internationally, yet so many people suffer from poor nutrition?

Nutrition is no big secret. Soups are great for nutrition because of all the nutrients they contain, with or without protein. They are also very easy for the body to digest and thus offer better absorption of those valuable nutrients.

 

1. Something warm

Hot chicken soup has a tradition as food for the sick. I have a Polish friend that calls chicken soup ‘Jewish Penicillin.’  The steam that moistens the mucous membranes when sipping, the hot liquid in general, minerals such as zinc, the anti-inflammatory substances in the bones, or the care of the cook: various factors probably play a role in the beneficial effect. It just shows that the now so popular ‘Bone Broth’ is really nothing new.
Tip: leave some meat in the soup, it contains well-tolerated protein, vegetables contain additional minerals. The soup becomes even more substantial with gluten-free noodles.

 

2. Start easily

An infection is often associated with involuntary fasting. After the break, you should start again as soon as possible, but especially after a gastrointestinal infection, do not put too much pressure on your digestion. Ideal starters are rusks, toast or a porridge made from oatmeal and water. Tip: expand the menu as soon as possible, otherwise the diet will become too one-sided in the long run! Oatmeal can be gradually “built-up”: with any kind of milk, banana or other fruits, nuts or almonds.

 

3. Fill up with water

No thirst and at the same time fever, vomiting or diarrhea means the body quickly lacks fluids. Drinking is important so that the circulation does not sag, the brain and organs receive sufficient nutrients and because the kidneys can only excrete toxins in water. Hot drinks are particularly beneficial.
Instead of black tea and coffee, choose herbal teas with additional effects: chamomile, lemon balm, peppermint soothe the stomach, caraway seeds and fennel relieve flatulence. Icelandic moss is good for sore throats, thyme loosens phlegm, and linden flowers help with coughs.

 

4. Refuel with something fresh

In order to work properly, the immune system needs enough vitamins and minerals. Lots of vegetables and fruit provide a healthy basis for this. In addition, the green diet helps to stabilize the balance of the intestinal bacteria, which are important for the immune system. Carrots and zucchini are easier to digest than cabbage and leeks, and cooked vegetables are easier to digest than raw vegetables. Additional calories in the form of butter or oil are now desirable.

 

5. Invigorate the intestines

If you have to take Antibiotics, they relieve symptoms quickly, but about one in four gets diarrhea from them. Yoghurt cannot prevent this with certainty, but it can help. Experts suspect that the yoghurt bacteria displace the pathogenic germs in the intestine. The correct dose is two to three cups a day. If you can’t eat that much yoghurt, take a good multistrain probiotic.
Important: The effect of some antibiotics is inhibited by dairy products. Eat yogurt or probiotics as far away from the antibiotics as possible (4hrs).

 

6. Lots of protein

Muscles that atrophy easily when lying down need a lot of protein in addition to movement.
Eggs are a good source. It is even more valuable when combined with potatoes, for example as frittata: protein building blocks that one lacks is provided by the other and vice versa.
Spread the protein sources over the day: Start in the morning with cheese and bread or porridge with milk. Eat scrambled eggs, steamed fish or a steak at lunchtime and a sausage sandwich or a glass of milk as a bedtime treat in the evening.
Vegetarians are right with lentils etc – ideal with bread or pasta.

Colon Hydrotherapy or an enema is always helpful during recovery from anything. Simply because it supports our immune system, which in turn supports our healing.