Being sick also can lead to insensible fluid loss, such as sweating from fever or blowing your nose, Rosner says, while vomiting or diarrhea can exacerbate fluid loss. So, drinking more fluids helps replenish these losses.
Drinking plenty of fluids is one of the most important things you can do when you have a cold or flu. Because cold and flu symptoms like runny noses and sweating, which often accompanies fever, increase the amount of water your body loses, dehydration might occur if your fluid intake is not increased to compensate.
Getting enough water every day is important for your health. Drinking water can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change, cause your body to overheat, and lead to constipation and kidney stones.
Staying hydrated with lots of fluids can thin your mucus and make it easier for you to drain it from your nose and sinuses. Fluids also help to keep the mucous membranes lubricated, which means that you can help eliminate that feeling of dryness in your nose.
Proper hydration can help the skin and mucous membrane cells act as a barrier to prevent bacteria from entering the body. Proper hydration helps decrease nasal irritation when coughing, sneezing and even just breathing.
Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. Avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which can make dehydration worse. Rest. Your body needs rest to heal.
Water is one of the best fluids to consume to help you to stay hydrated when you're sick. The reason for this is that water doesn't contain any calories, sugar, or preservatives, which are things that can cause dehydration. Don't discount the power of a decaf or warm beverage that's low in caffeine.
Milk is more hydrating than water
For example, milk was found to be even more hydrating than plain water because it contains the sugar lactose, some protein and some fat, all of which help to slow the emptying of fluid from the stomach and keep hydration happening over a longer period.
Drink ten (10) 8-ounce glasses of water every day.
You can easily get dehydrated from sweating and producing lots of mucus, and you need to make plenty of urine to clear the waste from your immune system.
The short answer is yes! There are several contributing factors that cause you to lose fluids when you're sick. High fever, vomiting or diarrhea or just loss of appetite can lead to dehydration. If you're fighting a cold or you're in the throes of flu-like symptoms, fighting off dehydration can be difficult.
The key to recovering from the flu as fast as possible is to get plenty of rest. By resting during the day, your body will be able to devote more resources to fighting the virus. Sleep is also important. Sleep gives your body the opportunity to focus on strengthening your immune system.
Gatorade, because of its electrolyte content, helps to restore the lost electrolytes and keep a person hydrated, during intense activity. It can also replace electrolytes, during times of illness, such as stomach viruses.
Many people like sleeping in a cool room, but don't make it so cold that you wake up shivering in the middle of the night. When you're feeling sick, you might want to consider raising the temperature a little, rather than letting the thermostat drop. Just don't forget to change it back when you're feeling better.
In fact, water may not even crack the top five of the most hydrating drinks out there. According to a study from Scotland's St. Andrew's University, milk, Pedialyte and soda top the list of most hydrating beverages.
Scientists say milk is the most hydrating drink
While the team found water — both still and sparkling — does a great job of hydrating people, they also found that it's missing a few key ingredients to really make it work efficiently in the human body. Namely, plain water is missing just a touch of fat, salt, and sugar.
Caffeinated drinks should be avoided as they are dehydrating. They include coffee, cola drinks, energy drinks and tea. Alcohol is also dehydrating and should be avoided. In addition, it affects the functioning of the immune system and drinking too much alcohol makes you more likely to get an infection.
Gatorade contains significant amounts of electrolytes, sodium, and potassium that can help replenish the body with all of the important elements being lost. In fact, scientific research shows that physically active children will drink more Gatorade than water and therefore stay better hydrated.
While sick, you may feel a decrease in thirst or appetite which can make it difficult to drink enough water. To combat this, try to drink a little bit of water every few minutes opposed to a large amount of water every few hours.
Although not super exciting, very plain and bland foods can help ease symptoms. Try pasta, dry cereals, oatmeal, bread and crackers. But bland doesn't mean you can't add protein or veggies into the mix if you're feeling up for it! Try eating rice and baked chicken breast or cheese and crackers.
Research shows that the immune system follows a circadian rhythm and that the cells involved in healing and inflammation tend to rev up in the evening. Some evidence suggests that more white blood cells (WBCs) are sent to your tissues to fight off infection during the night compared to the day.
The acid can irritate a sore or inflamed throat. Many store-bought orange juices are also high in sugar, which is not recommended for treating cold symptoms. Stick with water and clear liquids, such as broth, instead.