What To Drink When Throwing Up
What To Drink When Throwing Up? You’re sitting in the bathroom at work when you suddenly start feeling queasy and your stomach starts rumbling audibly. You may not be able to eat anything because of the nausea, but can you drink something? What is best for throwing up? And what’s really safe?
It depends on how fast it happens — whether it’s hours after consuming foods containing alcohol or immediately after eating. In either case, there are some things that should never cross your lips while experiencing an upset stomach.
These include:
Gum, mints, hard candies, aspirin, toothpaste, antacids, diet pills, caffeine, chocolate, onions, garlic, chili peppers, hot sauces, chilies, tomatoes, raw egg whites, yeast extract, shellfish, sushi rice, dry vermouth, grapefruit juice, soda with bubbles, and any other products containing carbonated beverages (perceived as fizzy).
Some people have such sensitive taste buds they need help deciding what liquids to consume during a bout of nausea. The American Pregnancy Association recommends avoiding all fluids except water until you’ve been cleared by your doctor. They recommend against taking fluids that contain sugar or salt, which could cause dehydration, particularly coffee, tea, soup, applesauce, bananas, and citrus fruits. If you must take one of those substances, dilute it with water.
The following guidelines will give you a good idea about what types of liquid to avoid and what liquids to seek out when you’re nauseous.
Fluid Guidelines
Water – Plain filtered water is safest. Avoid juices, sodas, alcoholic beverages, and other caffeinated beverages. For a real treat, add slices of lemon or lime.
Weak tea (unsweetened) – Tastier than plain water and has no calories or carbs. It also provides vitamin C and potassium, two nutrients found lacking in many diets today.
Non-carbonated sparkling water – This is especially helpful if you know you’re going to vomit soon. A glass of seltzer can sometimes do more harm than good. It gives you gas, makes you burp, and may dehydrate you further.
Sipping ginger ale – Sip slowly so you don’t get too much carbon dioxide buildup. Ginger ale is better than tonic water, which is made with quinine, a powerful laxative.
Clear soft drinks without carbonation – Most brands of pop are OK, as long as they aren’t sugary sweet syrups. Skip full-calorie sodas like Mountain Dew. Instead, opt for iced teas or flavored waters.
Coffee or tea without cream and sugar – Coffee, tea, cocoa, and herbal tea are great choices. Just make sure they come decaffeinated or low-fat.
Applesauce – Eat this instead of toast. Applesauces contain pectin, a soluble fiber that helps lower cholesterol levels and regulate blood sugar. Plus, its sweetness balances out the bitter taste of sickness.
Vegetables – A big bowl of steaming vegetables is delicious and nutritious. But watch out: Some varieties, including cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach, can irritate your stomach lining and worsen your nausea. Stick with cruciferous veggies like carrots, cucumbers, and radishes.
Broth – Chicken noodle or beef barley are both soothing soups. Or heat up leftovers from last night’s dinner. Broths are high in sodium, however, so stick to mild ones. Also, steer away from broths thickened with bread crumbs, cornstarch, or flour.
Pudding – Go ahead and indulge in pudding. However, choose vanilla pudding over apple pie filling. Apple pie filling contains lots of spices that can trigger heartburn and aggravate nausea.
Oatmeal – Oats are a complex carbohydrate, which means they provide a slow release of energy into the bloodstream. This is important when you’re nauseous. Oatmeal is also very calming, making it an ideal choice for morning sickness.
Bananas – Bananas contain magnesium, which regulates muscle function and nerve impulses. This is important because nausea often results from spasms of muscles throughout the gastrointestinal tract.
Lemonade – Lemonade is tasty, but it does have a lot of sugar. There are plenty of options for making fresh lemonade at home. Citrus fruits, strawberries, and honeydew melon are just a few alternatives. Make sure you dilute lemonade with water.
Yogurt – Yogurts are packed with protein. Choose fat-free yogurt and skip the topping.
Maltodextrin powder – Maltodextrin is a type of sugar found naturally in milk. It is used as a bulk substance in powdered nutritional supplements. Its flavor is similar to gelatin, another popular choice for people experiencing morning sickness.
Rye crackers – Chewy rye crispness combined with salty crunch equals a winning combo for relieving morning sickness symptoms. Crackers are also easy to digest and won’t leave you overly gassy.
Asparagus – Asparagus contains a chemical called folate, which stimulates production of red blood cells. Red blood cells are essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients to your baby’s developing tissues and organs.
Dried apricot kernels – Dried apricot kernel pieces act as natural emetics. Eating them reduces bloating and flatulence caused by excess gases produced during digestion.
Apple cider vinegar – Vinegar is acidic and can neutralize the effects of gastric acid. It also acts as a topical pain reliever for indigestion.
Herbal remedies – Herbs and tinctures are effective treatments for alleviating nausea. Chamomile tea calms intestinal spasms; feverfew fights inflammation in the digestive system; peppermint eases menstrual discomfort; cola nuts ease motion sickness; ginger root treats diarrhea; and licorice candy can calm a queasy stomach. Consult your healthcare professional before using herbs or other complementary therapies.
Echinacea – Echinacea is a plant native to North America and Europe. It speeds up metabolism and boosts immunity. Studies show that echinacea improves the overall effectiveness of antibiotics. It also appears to reduce the severity of colds and flu.
Vitamin B6 – Vitamin B6 strengthens nerves and aids in the formation of antibodies. Nausea occurs when your immune system mistakes pregnancy hormones for harmful viruses. Taking vitamin B6 can prevent this false alarm.
Foods That Are Safe During Pregnancy
There are certain foods that pregnant women can safely enjoy without worrying about their unborn child. Here are 10 examples of foods that are considered “safe” during pregnancy.
1. Alcohol
Alcohol consumption is associated with fetal alcohol syndrome and birth defects. Women who binge drink regularly place their fetuses’ development at risk. Although moderate drinking occasionally is beneficial to healthy pregnancies, heavy drinking is strongly discouraged.
2. Chocolate
Chocolate isn’t exactly known for being healthful. In fact, high amounts of cacao — the main ingredient in dark chocolate — can raise your insulin level. Insulin is responsible for transporting carbohydrates into the body’s cells where they become glucose. High levels of glucose put extra stress on the fetus’ immature pancreas. Dark chocolate poses less risk than white chocolate because it doesn’t contain any added sugars. Milk chocolate shouldn’t be consumed because it increases the amount of free radicals present in the placenta.
3. Salt
Excessive intake of salt can lead to hypertension. Hypertension affects nearly 70 million Americans, causing strokes, kidney failure, blindness, and congestive heart failure. Excess salt causes fluid retention, which puts additional strain on the kidneys and raises blood pressure. Pregnant women with gestational hypertension require strict blood pressure control to ensure proper fetal development. Too little salt might impair brain growth and result in stillbirth.
4. Cigarette Smoke
Smoking cigarettes exposes your unborn child to nicotine, carbon monoxide, and other toxins. Smoking can cause premature births, miscarriages, and low birth weights. Nicotine constricts arteries, blocking blood flow to the uterine artery and restricting vital oxygen supply to the foetus. Carbon monoxide interferes with the normal function of hemoglobin, the protein molecule in blood that carries oxygen.
5. Drugs
Drug use during pregnancy can increase the likelihood of congenital anomalies and miscarriage. Many prescription drugs, recreational drugs, and street drugs carry risks, including addiction. Drug-seeking behavior can damage the nervous system and hinder cognitive functioning.
6. Marijuana
Marijuana is unsafe for pregnant women. Even small doses of THC, the active compound in marijuana, can cause severe developmental problems for babies. Babies are born prematurely, suffer respiratory distress, and die shortly thereafter. Cannabis causes vasodilation, increasing blood pressure and heart rate, which puts unnecessary pressure on the mother’s cardiovascular system. Marijuana also impairs motor skills and cognition, hindering learning and memory functions. Furthermore, marijuana is addictive and causes dependency.
7. Medications
Medications prescribed by physicians should be taken exactly as directed. Side effects are common among medications, but rarely pose serious danger to the mother or unborn child. Your physician will prescribe medications to meet your specific needs. Always follow directions carefully.
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