Viral gastroenteritis can be an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea and headache, as noted on the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse website. This condition typically will resolve over a few days, but you have to adjust your diet to allow your stomach to rest and recover.
First Phase
Avoid eating any food or drink for the first few hours after developing viral gastroenteritis, according to the McKinley Health Center website. After four to eight hours, you can start consuming clear liquids like apple juice, Kool-Aid, sports drinks, 7Up or ginger ale, and Popsicles. Try to drink 4 to 8 oz. of fluid each hour; if drinking causes you to vomit, drink smaller amounts at a time. Children are a higher risk of dehydration, so rehydration solutions like Pedialyte should be used, according to National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Once you can keep the fluids down without vomiting or diarrhea, you can advance your diet, according to the Ohio State University Medical Center.
Second Phase
At this stage, you can begin to add certain types of bland foods to the clear liquid diet, These foods are low in fiber, which continues to allow your gastrointestinal tract to rest while getting the calories and nutrients you need. Some good choices include applesauce, mashed potatoes, plain rice or pasta, cereals like corn flakes or puffed rice, and toast, according to Brown University Health Services. One easy way to remember what bland foods are acceptable is to use the "BRATS" diet: bananas, bread, rice, applesauce, toast without butter, and saltine crackers, according to Gannett Health Services. You can proceed to the next step in your diet when you can tolerate these foods.
Third Phase
This phase allows more solid foods but still is not quite a regular diet. You can continue to eat any of the foods in the previous dietary steps, but you can add tender lean meat, fish or poultry and cooked eggs, according to McKinley Health Center. Well-cooked vegetables and fruits also can be eaten, as can sorbet or sherbet, according to Brown University Health Services. Most people are able to advance their diets to this level within 24 to 48 hours; however, if you experience diarrhea or vomiting, return to an earlier step and slowly advance.
Foods to Avoid After Viral Gastroenteritis
Certain foods should not be eaten at all during the acute attack; after the symptoms have resolved, you may still need to reintroduce these foods slowly to avoid irritating your stomach again. People with viral gastroenteritis should avoid spicy foods, alcohol, caffeinated beverages, milk or milk products, raw vegetables or fruits, and popcorn and nuts. Caffeinated drinks and alcohol can dehydrate you, and citrus fruits and juices can cause irritation. Although you might be feeling better, it might be a good idea to avoid milk products for one or two weeks after the end of the condition because lactose intolerance can develop while the gastrointestinal tract is irritated. In healthy adults, viral gastroenteritis is a condition that should not have long-term consequences.
Member Comments