Those of you who know me well, know I have an assortment of physical issues. Among these, are several autoimmune diseases that weaken my immune system, resulting in catching common viruses that healthy people usually fight off. Colds and lots of 'gut' stuff.
Often, the only thing that helps calm down stomach and intestinal upset, is a clear liquid fast, followed by simple, easy to digest food for a day or two. This is a good thing to do - to rest our bodies - not only after a bad bout with a digestive bug, but after a time of excessive eating and drinking. Holidays or reunions for example.
I've decided to start a special category just for this, and call it Simple Recovery Food. So many people who are plagued by such things, don't realize the importance of good gut health! When it's irritated, or compromised due to illness or chronic problems, what it needs is a rest from heavy, spicy, solids.
If you find yourself struggling with this, check back here for future additions. Type simple recovery food in the search line, for recipe ideas to get you back to Feeling Good again.
1-1/2 quarts cold fresh water
1 med. carrot, scrubbed and thinly sliced
a little broken up angel hair pasta*
2t Better Than Bouillon - chicken
Bring the water to a boil then add the carrot, pasta and soup base. Stir, turn down the heat and simmer on low, until the pasta and carrots are well cooked, not al dente, to make it easier to digest.
One word of caution, with stomach-intestinal flu, if you can't keep anything down, wait 4 hours from the last time you had a vomiting episode. NOTHING to eat or drink for 4 hours after the last time. Then start with regular cola (Coke / Pepsi, etc.) NOT diet, your body needs a little real sugar now, not chemicals! Stir out the carbonation, then sip that slowly. Cola is the best vs. clear sodas, since there are properties in the cola bean that calm the long muscles of the stomach. At first, stick to just flat colas for 6-8 hours. Then add clear, weak chicken broth for the sodium and electrolytes, then tea and finally water. The next day you can add a few soda crackers and this sort of mild, simple soup.
1/3c rice* would have been better. It's much easier to digest than wheat pasta.
For today, this, some mild lemon tea, and naturally flavored seltzer will be it for me. Resting my gut, yet staying well hydrated. By tomorrow morning, I'm sure I'll feel much better.
A Healthy Gut = Optimal Overall Wellbeing
In all aspects: mentally, a strong immune system, healthy mind, reduces inflammation, increases resistance to virus, chronic disease. . .and so much more! Eat well, but carefully, for peak performance in all areas: physically, mentally and emotionally. . .Lin
