According to experts, when recovering from TB, it is essential to eat a well-balanced and nutritious diet to help strengthen the immune system.
We have all heard of tuberculosis, generally known as TB. It is an infectious bacterial disease that usually attacks the lungs, but in some cases, TB can affect other parts of the body, such as the brain and spine. The general line of medical treatment for patients who have active symptoms is a prolonged course of multiple antibiotics. With continuous medical treatment, working and improving the patient’s immunity also plays an important role in the treatment of TB. Immunity can be improved with proper nutrition and this is how you can do it.
5 Immunity Boosting Foods For Patients Recovering From Tuberculosis:
- Protein-rich foods like legumes, beans, milk (fresh organically available), paneer, soybeans, chicken, fish, and eggs help build strength and muscle mass, further enhancing your immunity.
- Energy-dense foods like nuts, seeds, nut butters, smoothies, shakes, and healthy fats like ghee, seed oils, and coconut oil help you complete your energy requirement to metabolize antibiotics and fight TB infection.
- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory foods, including vitamins A, E, C, and D, provide you with powerful antioxidants that help eliminate disease- and inflammation-causing free radicals in your body. To name a few, it can include carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, and fruits like berries, citrus, apples, mangoes, papaya, etc. However, it is strongly recommended to look for locally available fruits and vegetables that are in season. . Include a variety and your micronutrient requirement will be met.
- Since selenium and zinc also play a vital role in enhancing immunity, here are some suggestions: Brazil nuts, brown rice, beans, mushrooms, legumes, seeds, nuts, etc.
- Vitamin B complex and fiber: Whole grains, millet (jaun, jowar, ragi, bajra), lentils and legumes are rich in B vitamins and fiber which improve energy levels and reduce fatigue caused by tuberculosis.
Foods to avoid for tuberculosis patients
While you can include all of these foods to boost immunity and fight TB, there are also certain foods to avoid:
1. Refined foods: Refined flour, white sugar, refined oils
2. Processed and fried foods
3. Excess coffee, tea, or foods/drinks with high caffeine content.
The bottom line is to include a variety of foods. It will help improve your strength, energy levels and provide a host of macro and micro nutrients to help fight infection and recover well.
(Inputs: Lavleen Kaur, Co-Founder and Senior Dietitian, Diet Insight)
$(document).ready(function(){
$(‘#commentbtn’).on(“click”,function(){
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=178196885542208”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
$(“.cmntbox”).toggle();
});
});
