![\"\"](\"http:\/\/drkarenhudes.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/image1-1-225x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSo a Gastrointestinal bug generally takes us unaware and can hit with nausea, vomiting and for added fun…. diarrhea. (I can never spell that word, I had to spell check – think its my mind blocking it out… fair enough).<\/p>\n
People confuse with the\u00a0flu or call it the ‘stomach flu’ but really it has nothing to do with the flu (which is cause by\u00a0one of the many\u00a0influenza viruses) while a GI or Gastrointestinal bug can have varied causes…. mostly the ones that go through us fast (like in 24 to 48 hours) are viral.\u00a0 So basically you have to keep hydrated and wait it out while trying to be as comfortable as possible.\u00a0 If it lasts longer than a day or you are worried you aren’t keeping hydrated please seek medical care – dehydration is very dangerous – and it can happen fast, especially with children.<\/p>\n
I generally suggest water or flat ginger ale or chicken soup.\u00a0 Stay away from Gatoraide as a general rule as the loads of sugar wont do you any favours and it really isn’t formulated for this kind of illness.\u00a0 Pedialyte or Gastrolyte work too . Research has actually been done on\u00a0chicken soup and illness\u00a0and people who consume home made chicken soup actually do fair better on recovery from illness.\u00a0 (Seriously,\u00a0Grandma is always right so just give in).<\/p>\n
While you are nauseated something you can do to help the nausea is smell Peppermint Essential Oil .\u00a0 It works remarkably fast, is safe as you are just smelling it, and totally non-invasive.\u00a0 Good for kids and pregnant women too.\u00a0 One caveat.\u00a0 The oils you can buy off the shelf are not all equal.\u00a0 There is no laws governing what companies put on their bottles or in them.\u00a0 For this reason you may thing you have a pure essential oil that is not.\u00a0 I use Young Living Essential Oils in my practice and at home as I am happy with their process of standardizing what is in every bottle and they have outside labs cross check the contents.\u00a0 It is a great product.<\/p>\n
Ok, so now you are in recovery mode and your tummy is tender.\u00a0 What do you go back to eating right away so as to not freak out your system?<\/p>\n
Back to grandma and her advice: B.R.A.T.<\/p>\n
Eat only B.R.A.T. for 24 hours then you should be good to reintroduce other foods slowly.\u00a0 Take your time re-introducing meats (especially red meat – this may take a week or so) and dairy (can take even longer). Sometimes your normal flora in the gut is off after one of these bouts with a bug and\u00a0especially diary and meet can trigger another bout of diarrhea.\u00a0 Happened with my son\u00a0not long ago… sigh, poor kid (He is all good now though thanks!).\u00a0 Also – a good probiotic can really help – really we should all take one daily but especially in this situation.\u00a0 If is your kids who are sick there are also really good chewable probiotics formulated for children.<\/p>\n
Wait – what is BRAT?<\/p>\n
B- bananas<\/p>\n
R- rice<\/p>\n
A – apple sauce<\/p>\n
T- toast<\/p>\n
These things tend to be binding and easy on the GI system and have a bonus of generally being around the house.\u00a0 If you don’t have apple sauce on hand here is a quick recipe for apple sauce that can be easily whipped up:<\/p>\n
Apple Sauce<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
3 apples<\/p>\n
water<\/p>\n
honey<\/p>\n
cinnamon<\/p>\n
seriously that’s it – peel and core apples and chop – throw in a pot and cover with water.\u00a0 Boil this adding water periodically as it evaporates until the apples lose their form and you can smush them.\u00a0 Add honey for sweetness and cinnamon (but be careful with this on a tender tummy not all will like it).\u00a0 The honey has the added bonus of being anti-microbial and has been used since antiquity for healing.\u00a0 Certainly can’t hurt here.<\/p>\n
Also, almost goes without saying… wash your hands lots. Best way to prevent the spread of illness.\u00a0 Be serious about it.\u00a0 I make my son sing the alphabet song as he is soaping up – that’s about how long you need to do it. Then let the soap and water flow ‘downhill’ as you rinse it off so as to carry the virus or bacteria away from you and down the drain (I mean angle hands down and let water flow from wrists to fingertips and off).<\/p>\n
Something Grandma may not have known is that chiropractic adjustments have been shown to boost the white blood cell count – if you are feeling sick you shouldn’t cancel you appointment you should go to see the chiropractor -or book an appointment at the start of the cold – we can boost your immune system! Stay healthy this cold and flu season – one of the ways to do that is regular chiropractic care.\u00a0 If you have more questions about this please contact Dr. Karen.<\/p>\n
Hope all this helps.\u00a0 And remember, just listen to your Grandmother.\u00a0 She was right all along.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
So a Gastrointestinal bug generally takes us unaware and can hit with nausea, vomiting and for added fun…. diarrhea. (I can never spell that word, I had to spell check – think its my mind blocking it out… fair enough). People confuse with the\u00a0flu or call it the ‘stomach flu’ but really it has nothing … <\/p>\n