Saturday, January 3, 2009

How to Stop the Stomach Flu Dead in Its Tracks



I've been reading a lot of blogs lately where people are talking about coming down with the stomach flu and passing it around their whole families. This is not fun, and I have the answer!

Two words:  GRAPE JUICE.  

Yep, when the first person in your family comes down with the stomach flu, have everyone else in the family start drinking grape juice three times a day. Apparently, this changes the level of acidity in your digestive tract into one that is not conducive to the stomach flu viruses. Since a mother of ten taught me this many years ago, I have never had a stomach bug spread through my family. Not once! (Remember, you have to keep drinking the grape juice three times a day for a couple of days.)

Even better is when you know you or your child have been exposed. You can start the grape juice regimen and avoid the flu altogether.

Just think of it. No more ruined summer vacations, Thanksgivings or Christmases. (At least, not ruined by the stomach flu...I'm not a miracle worker here...)

So there it is: My New Year's present to all of you out there in blogville. (Feel free to regift this one to those who need it!)

=)

PS. Be sure to use 100% grape juice...the deep purple-hued kind. (I use Welches, but don't get the light or the white variety.)

PPS. Remember...This does not stop the stomach flu once you already have it. It is preventative; once you have been exposed to a stomach bug, the grape juice will keep you from catching it.

41 comments:

Sarah said...

thanks so much for sharing this-- wish i would have had this advice a week ago :(

Lisa Loo said...

Fascinating!! I have never heard of this---will have to try it next time.

Em said...

sue, i love you.

Rebecca Irvine said...

I will have to keep this in mind-- love to find ideas like this.

Shauna said...

~HAPPY NEW YEAR~ Just wanted to remind you the Happy New Year offer ends Mon. Jan. 5th at noon for the free 8x10 print. Spread the word for people to post and e-mail David Bowman by then :) Have a beautiful Sunday! ♥ Hugs! Shauna

Em said...

sue, i'm sick with the flu. i went to bed at 7 tonight and here i am wide eyed and pukey at 11pm with my glass of grape juice. i thought getting online would distract me from this yucky feeling. let's hope this grape juice thing really works!

Snarky Belle said...

Ok, I will never be able to express how serious I am right now! My father-in-law is the staunchest supporter of Welch's grape juice on the planet. He will even call us to ask if we are drinking our grape juice. I could go on for days about this. He will be glad to know he is not alone in his quest to bring everyone to the knowledge of the great juice! :)

Heather Anderson said...

This really works... I wasn't a believer at first but I am now!

NBlake said...

Worked again for us this year. Loving the grape juice!

Angie said...

I love discovering little mother magic tricks. I hope this works for us. What a relief that would be. But oh, if all 6 of my kids start throwing up purple what a mess!

Darlene said...

Sue,

So glad I read this today! Just ten minutes ago a friend called to say she has it. Question: do other high-acid juices work? Cranberry?

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Dr. Annie said...

I'd love to hear stories from people who have successfully or unsuccessfully tired the grape juice. To post your story and for a wealth of information on the stomach flu, please go to http://www.stopthestomachflu.com

LordBern said...

That's very interesting. Since my son started Kindergarten, I've been looking for ways to keep him healthy (as best I can). Just a couple of questions: How much grape juice do you have to drink per day as a preventative? 2-3 times per day seems like a LOT of juice. BUT if it works, I won't complain. And does apple juice work too (that you know of)? I read it's similarly anti-viral (so is cranberry juice).

Susan Anderson said...

LordBern: One glass of Welch's 3 times a day has done it for us as a preventative measure. But you have to start it right when the person is exposed, and it won't work after any symptoms appear. Then it just makes things worse!

I have not heard of apple juice working for this purpose. The reason the grape juice works is not because of anti-viral properties (though it may have some) but because of the ph balance it creates.

=)

LordBern said...

Sue, thanks for your response. This is such an awesome find and I found medical studies that back up the reasoning behind its effectiveness. There are several reasons it's probably so effective (tannins, pH, anti-viral chemicals) and apples and cranberries supposedly share a lot of what makes grape juice work so well. Just not as well.

I hate to keep bugging, but how much juice per glass is what I'm looking for. Is it about a half a cup or whole cup (8oz or 16oz?) of juice per glass three times per day? Morning, noon, and night is when you drink? I'd like to start a regimen since flu season is coming and just would like to know what you guys do specifically. I'm just trying to get a roundabout amount so we can start.

Susan Anderson said...

I'd say probably a 10 oz glass, because we just get a regular water glass and drink out of that. A juice glass, which I believe is 6 oz., might be too small. I can only tell you anecdotally that we use our water glasses and fill them.

Remember this does not work for the cold-type flu. It is for the stomach flu only.

Good luck!

=)

LordBern said...

Thanks for the response! Grape juice really is a wonder juice. So many reasons to drink it and now one more big reason ! Here's to a healthy flu season for all. God bless.

LordBern said...

I'm going to bug you again Sue since I have a large family and they're all asking about this. :^)

Do you guys wait for someone in your family to get the tummy bug and then start drinking the juice or do you drink juice every day as a preventative all winter?

Is there a smaller amount you can drink every day that you know of that will work to keep you immune? Or do you just guzzle the juice for a couple days after someone near you has gotten it?

Susan Anderson said...

When one of us gets the stomach flu, the others just start guzzling grape juice. We also do that when we find out that any one of us has been exposed at school, work, or in the neighborhood. But we only do it when we know we've been exposed.

If you have any other questions, please give me your email address next time so I don't have to keep coming back to this post.

Thanks.

Southern Queen of the Crazies said...

Should we use this one the vomiting person or not? My daughter threw up at school and I am drinking grape juice :/

Susan Anderson said...

In answer to your question, Southern Queen, no. You do not give the grape juice to the vomiting person. In fact, she should not have fluids until the vomiting has stopped for a couple of hours...and even then, only ice slivers. Once she holds that down, give her small sips of flat ginger ale.

But yes, you should be drinking an 8 oz glass of grape juice with every meal. And keep your meals bland and light. It should work to keep you from getting it.

=)

kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor said...

Sue- I stumbled onto this article about a year ago (actually November of 2009 to be exact). I am happy to report that over a year later and not one of us has had the stomach flu. I do take it a step further and we stay on grape juice all season long (no matter what)! I have also "re-gifted" this info to A LOT of friends who are so happy to have received it and it has worked for them, too. THANK YOU, SUE!

Southern Queen of the Crazies said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
shayamch98 said...

Does this really work? my son's school has an outbreak of the stomach bug as we speak and 7 out of 12 kids from his basketball team were up sick last night with it too! I stated him and my other 2 kids on grape juice last night ,but I'm still scared they are going to get sick! I'm also having a hard time getting my daughter to drink it, she's so picky! Will my kids still get sick even when drinking the juice? I'm having a family party here on Christmas Eve and I'm getting nervous my kids will be sick for it! ahh!

Susan Anderson said...

This has always worked for my family when we started the grape juice right away. Make sure it is 100% Welch's grape juice without any added sugar...the dark purple kind.

Also, have them eat small, bland meals...give their digestive tract as little work as possible. They should draink a full glass (8 oz.) three times a day, and so should the adults in the family.

Good luck! And Merry Christmas!

shayamch98 said...

Sue, my son did end up with the virus all of his friends got, but he was the only one who never vomited! He just had a fever and belly ache and nausea! My other 2 children and I have been drinking grape juice ever since! I'm really hoping this works as we are getting so close to Christmas I do't have time to be sick! Thanks so much!

chrisg20 said...

shayamch98- Did the grape juice keep your other kids healthy?

LivenItUp said...

How much do you have to drink as an every day preventative? I don't think I can handle 3 cups of juice a day all season !

LivenItUp said...

Sorry. To clarify my question...Instead of waiting for someone to get the flu, is there an amount a child and an adult can drink every day as a preventative and everyone in my family to NOT get it period? It looks like some people who posted have had some luck with it as an every day preventative.

Southern Queen of the Crazies said...

It worked for us a few weeks ago - my husband, youngest child and myself were spared. THANK YOU!!

Life in the House That Asperger Built said...

Visiting from Blog Gems. Great tip! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing! I am trying it now. One of the kids at my son's day care came down with it today. Sending grandma over with a bottle of grape juice so he can start drinking it. Hope it works! We have a wedding, family coming in from out of town and about to go on vacation soon. SamuelK, how did it work for you?

michelle said...

Hey Sue,

So you have never, ever, ever gotten the stomach flu while using the grape juice??
Thanks so much
Michelle

Unknown said...

Hi Sue, I am so glad I ran accross your blog. I have heard about drinking grape juice after being exposed to a stomach bug. I have been looking for more preventives to use on my daughters since they are both in school full time & we are in the beginning of stomach flu season & it has been running wild through the school already. And also my extended family. I myself drink 2tsp of apple cider vinegar 2-3times a day my daughters would much prefer the grape juice.

Anonymous said...

Hey sue I'm a father of 4 and a wonderful wife. My son came home today and threw up once but didn't have the runs. He was complaining about his stomach hurting for the last two days what u think?

J. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
J. said...

i have read about the extraordinary properties of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and its preventative properties for the stomach flu. however, kids won't drink it; its disgusting even in water with honey. but i mixed it (2tsp.) with 1/2C. of grape juice and voila! we have a winner. hoping they get the benefits of both with less sugar. we will continue to do it 3X a day. we shall see...

KaraS said...

I am so grateful to a have found this info today!stomach flu is always my most dreaded illness to deal with. It's been going around our neighborhood & my son's school. We leave for our first trip to Disneyworld tomorrow morning and I found out a few hours ago my 3 yr old daughter was at a house yesterday where 1 girl was quarantined (but mom said she never saw her throw up) and the baby got it this morning. I have been in a panic! Just got back from store to buy welch's purple grape juice, ginger root & probiotics. If this works and prevents us all from getting this nasty bug I will be forever grateful!

Poems4HIM said...

Hi, I am new to this blog. I found it by searching for natural ways to prevent the stomach virus. I am a teacher and two of my students have had it. Next week is BIG vacation plans and I don't want the stomach virus FOR SURE!!!! I am pre-diabetic so will the sugar free kind of grape juice work? Can I get by with just 4 oz. three times a day?

Erinkita said...

A kid got sick in my childs class today. Is after school too late to start the grape juice regimine?

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