Get Your Energy Back After Being Ill
August 1, 2019
Here’s why you felt weak and crummy after that cold, flu, or stomach bug. It’s because your body worked extra hard to fight off the illness.
It’s the job of your white blood cells to regenerate and repair the daily wear and tear of the muscles. But when you’re sick or get an infection, they deviate from their regular job and work extra hard to fight off the virus or bacteria. Meanwhile, the muscles become weakened because they’ve missed their regular repairs.
Additionally, nasty bugs come with symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, runny nose, fever and more. Vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, which continue wreaking havoc in your body after the illness has passed. Similarly, coughing can lead to pain in the rib cage and other areas, and fever can lead to general weakness.
Viral
infections are dangerous because they can cause post-viral fatigue syndrome.
Besides making you feel chronically weak and tired, this syndrome can cause
depression for weeks or months long after the viral infection has run its
course.
While
these symptoms tend to resolve on their own with time, there are things you can
do to get your energy back faster.
Drink, drink, drink!
Water is
a hero when it comes to flushing bad stuff from your body, allowing your cells to
refocus on doing their regular jobs instead of working overtime to fight off
unwanted organisms.
Plus,
water keeps your lymph fluid circulating properly, which helps in the
distribution of white blood cells throughout your body to keep any leftover viruses
or bacteria from re-infecting you before you’re 100% better again.
Eat Right
If you’ve just fought off an illness, it’s probably not a good idea to go out and order a steak and a loaded baked potato for your first meal! Eat foods that are easy to digest and aren’t hard on your stomach.
The “BRAT” diet, which includes bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast – or foods that are more bland, higher in nutrients, and easier on the belly – is perfect when recovering. Avoid processed, spicy, and sugary foods because they can make your body go into overdrive trying to digest them, which tires you out even more.
Get physical!
An active
lifestyle repairs your body and replaces your energy faster than a sedentary
lifestyle. Don’t push yourself too
hard. Ease back into it and exercise just enough to remind your body how to
produce energy!
Swallow your Pride
Sure, you’re the independent type. Even still, accept a helping hand when recovering, if offered. Allow friends and family to help out a little bit until you’re back on your feet.
Ultimately,
you’re the only one who knows your limits. So be kind and gentle to your body
until you’ve fully recovered.