Water is the best fluid to drink when you have a cold or flu as it helps lubricate the mucous membranes of the throat.
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.
If you aren't eating well, drink liquids. Avoid alcohol or drinks with caffeine in them such as soft drinks, tea and coffee. Older adults and people with kidney problems should check with their doctor about safe amounts of liquid to drink when sick. Try clear fluids such as water, broth or sports drinks.
Repetitive vomiting and diarrhea is common with the stomach flu. Gatorade contains significant amounts of electrolytes, sodium, and potassium that can help replenish the body with all of the important elements being lost.
While all beverages restored hydration status equally, the researchers found that milk may be more effective than water or sports drinks at maintaining normal hydration status after exercise, likely due to milk's electrolyte content and energy density.
Sip a little bit of water at a time, but often
Bates said. “Drinking too much too soon can cause the stomach to stretch out and then bounce those fluids right back out.” Instead, take small sips of water every 10 minutes. If you notice you can tolerate it, slowly increase to every few minutes.
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.
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.
Caffeinated Drinks A diuretic, caffeine can exacerbate dehydration, so you'll want to limit or avoid beverages like coffee, black tea, and soda while you're sick with the flu, Vyas says.
The researchers found that while water — both still and sparkling — does a pretty good job of quickly hydrating the body, beverages with a little bit of sugar, fat or protein do an even better job of keeping us hydrated for longer.
The fastest way to cure dehydration is to drink fluids, particularly those that contain electrolytes, such as sports drinks or oral rehydration solutions. People unable to drink properly due to medical conditions may require IV hydration for faster results.
According to a recent study from the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, your body can alleviate mild dehydration in 45 minutes with 20.3 oz (600ml) of water. The time it takes for your body to rehydrate mainly depends on how dehydrated you are. In this article, we take an in-depth look.
In general, however, it usually takes about two hours for your body to rehydrate fully after drinking a significant amount of water.
Mild, moderate, and severe dehydration have similar treatments and warning signs but at varying levels. For more mild or moderate cases of dehydration, expect your body to feel better after just a few hours, but full rehydration won't happen until about three days later.
Orange juice is a yummy way to hydrate, but there's conflicting research on whether it can help your cold. 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.
“Water is the gold standard. However, non-sugar drinks such as Pedialyte, green or black tea or non-sugar sports drinks will work for adults, too. The key with fluid intake is to avoid dehydration. Fluids support your immune system function, thin mucus and lessen congestion.