What to do for the Stomach Flu

​If you are anything like me, when you hear the stomach flu is going around you hit the panic button. It is especially challenging when you have small children who bring the virus home and then pass it on to whomever the lucky person is who is taking care of them. I have said many times I would pay a monthly premium to prevent the stomach flu from hitting my house. Since there is no such option, here is some information from Dr. Sprecher on how best to prevent getting the dreaded virus this winter:

1. Keeping your immune system running optimally is one of the best ways to prevent getting sick at all. Plenty of Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Zinc are the first line of defense for your body, Using thieves oil on your hands and feet also helps.
2. Saccharomyces boulardii helps bind toxins and restore normal gut functioning. Our nutritionist, Bob, told me several years ago that this can help prevent the stomach flu and I have used it ever since, cranking it up a few notches when the stomach flu is going around. I have had much less severity of the bug than the rest of my family, so maybe it does work! We offer it here as Sacro B by OrthoMolecular or in Orthobiotic probiotic.
3. Probiotics: Keeping your gut balanced and healthy will help it be less vulnerable when the germs strike. Read more here.
4. If you have the stomach flu, one of the best gut-rebuilders on the market is GI Replenish by Metagenics. It has an amazing combination of ingredients that help calm and heal the gut. (It is also great after you finish a round of antibiotics, which is what I am currently using it for.) We have it here in chocolate and vanilla. Dr. Sprecher likes Perma Clear from Thorne, which has glutamine, saccharomyces boulardii and bacillus coagulans, and ginger, all great stomach soothers and rebuilders.
5. Another option for electrolyte rehydration when you've been sick is Endura from Metagenics, which is a little pouch that is poured into a water bottle. It contains electrolytes and other vitamins, is convenient and tastes great. Standby Gatorade is also a good (maybe a bit sugary) option.