You may have noticed that you lose pounds quickly when you have the flu. This may be because you eat less, but do you also burn extra calories due to the fever?
Despite feeling tired and lousy, not feeling like anything or maybe even nauseous, it is important to continue to eat and drink well when you are sick. Your body is working hard.
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If a bacteria, virus or fungus enters your body, the alarm bells go off. Your body tries to defend itself against the pathogens:it fights the infection, removes waste products and raises your thermostat a few degrees (fever). This costs a lot of energy, because your body has to do it as an extra, in addition to all normal bodily functions that have to be kept running. So your body works harder than usual and that immediately explains why you can sleep so much when you are sick and why you often have a faster heart rate.
Fever also boosts the metabolism considerably:with an increased temperature you associate more calories. Every degree that your body temperature rises above 37 degrees Celsius causes you to burn about seven to twelve percent more calories than normal. That can be compared to the amount of energy you use during an hour and a half of walking.
When you are sick, your body has a lot of work to do, so it is important that you take it easy. Don't push the boundaries by exercising or going to work. Take a step back and give your body time to recover.
It is wise to eat as much as normal. Your body desperately needs the nutrients in your diet. Are you really not hungry? Make sure you at least drink enough:a fever causes you to lose extra fluid. Try to eat something small every two hours, so that you still give your body new fuel with some regularity.
Bananas are rich in potassium, a very welcome addition if you've been sweating or spitting up. They would even help bring down body temperature. But don't eat the same thing over and over, try to alternate.
