What to Drink With a Stomach Virus vs the Flu? | Sip Right, Recover Faster

One big glass of water can trigger another round of vomiting when your stomach is already rebelling. Fluids are the whole game with a stomach bug or influenza, but what you drink and how fast you drink it decide whether you recover or lose ground. The two illnesses call for slightly different choices, and the difference matters most for children.

Below is what the CDC and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recommend, what to skip, and the signs that fluids alone are no longer enough.

What Should You Drink When a Stomach Virus Hits?

An oral rehydration solution is the top choice for viral gastroenteritis, with water, clear broth, and noncaffeinated sports drinks as adult backups. These solutions are sold over the counter as premixed liquids, freezer pops, and powders, and the CDC calls them the most helpful option for mild dehydration from norovirus.

Oral rehydration solutions beat everything else because they pair water with the exact ratio of sodium, potassium, and glucose your gut absorbs fastest. Plain water rehydrates but dilutes what’s left of your electrolytes.

For adults, reasonable options include water, clear broths, and noncaffeinated sports drinks. Sports drinks help with mild dehydration, though the CDC notes they don’t replace important nutrients and minerals the way a dedicated rehydration solution does.

Children need a firmer rule. The NIDDK recommends oral rehydration solutions for children with viral gastroenteritis, and plain water alone is not enough for them because it doesn’t adequately replace lost electrolytes.

How Do You Drink Without Triggering More Nausea?

Small, frequent sips beat large gulps every time. Drinking too quickly can worsen nausea and vomiting, so pace yourself.

A workable pace for older children and adults is 2 to 4 ounces every 30 to 60 minutes. Sip steadily rather than chugging, and let your stomach settle between rounds. Adults can also try ice chips or frequent small sips of water when a full glass feels like too much.

The instinct to drink a lot at once after hours of vomiting is understandable and counterproductive.

Which Drinks Make a Stomach Bug Worse?

Sugary drinks — fruit juice, soda, cola, and fruit-flavored gelatin — can pull water into the gut and worsen diarrhea. The CDC specifically warns against using these for rehydration during viral gastroenteritis.

Apple juice is a common offender for children, and it can make diarrhea worse. Broth mixed for soup, fruit juice, and sodas don’t replace lost minerals and can backfire.

Anything with caffeine or alcohol is also off the table, since both pull fluid out of your system when you’re already losing it. When you’re standing in the store aisle weighing options, this roundup of the best drinks for stomach flu compares what’s actually worth buying.

Do the Hydration Rules Change With Influenza?

No — with the flu, water and other clear fluids are fine as long as nausea and vomiting aren’t part of the picture. The goal is simply drinking enough to prevent dehydration. Plain water, broth, and decaffeinated tea all work. If the flu has your stomach involved too, swing back to the oral rehydration solution and sip rule above.

The guidance above covers viral gastroenteritis and norovirus, not bacterial food poisoning or other causes of vomiting and diarrhea. Those need their own medical assessment.

When Are Fluids Not Enough?

Severe dehydration may require hospitalization and IV fluids, according to the CDC. Watch for dizziness, lightheadedness, dark urine, or infrequent urination. When someone can’t keep fluids down because of vomiting, IV fluids may be needed, so it’s time to call a doctor or go in.

Children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems or heavy diarrhea need closer watching, since they lose fluid and electrolytes faster and slide toward dehydration sooner. If you’re keeping liquids down and urinating normally, you’re on track. If not, stop managing it at home.