Tuberculosis: What Food You Should Eat and Avoid

What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a dangerous infectious illness that damages the lungs. It’s caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which spreads via tiny airborne droplets from sneezes and coughs. Untreated TB can be lethal, and malnourished persons are more prone to contracting TB and relapsing following treatment. All of these symptoms are signs of active TB. Symptoms include high fever, chills, decreased appetite, tiredness, and difficulty breathing.
TB-induced pathophysiological alterations might lead to malnutrition. With TB, your body can’t produce protein, therefore you lose your appetite. This causes nutrient deficiency, muscle, fat, and fat loss.
It’s a constant cycle. Malnutrition can prolong active tuberculosis disease, while active TB can aggravate malnutrition. Your body needs sufficient nutrition to fight TB. A healthy tuberculosis food with some lifestyle changes can aid a lot in fighting this disease.

Tuberculosis Food

For patients to overcome the disease, they need a diet rich in macro-and micronutrients. Tuberculosis-prevention food that is high in protein, like soy or tofu, dairy, eggs, and lean meat, has amino acids that help your body fight off infections. These food groups assist in muscle development and fatigue reduction. They also give people the energy to go about their daily lives through healing and recovery.

Calorie-dense, nutrient-dense foods can meet the Tuberculosis patient’s rising metabolic demands while also preventing further weight loss. Food to eat for tuberculosis patients includes bananas, grain lentil soup, groundnut chikki, wheat, and finger millet.
Nuts are a good source of zinc and other nutrients that the body needs. Sunflower seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, and flaxseeds are among the nuts and seeds that are beneficial to TB patients. Include this tuberculosis food to eat in your diet to help you fight the disease.

Whole grains, cereals, and millets, which are high in calories and carbohydrates, can provide your body with the energy it needs to fight infection-causing bacteria.

Vitamin A, B, C, and E 5 rich fruits and vegetables help to recharge vitamin depletion caused by the disease and its treatment. Foods rich in antioxidants aid in the removal of toxins from the body, providing you with much-needed strength. These potent antioxidants also protect against the negative effects of high-dose medications and disease-causing free radicals.

To activate the immune system and prevent harmful free radicals, eat a variety of fruits and vegetables strong in antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E. To boost iron levels in the diet, eat green leafy vegetables two to three times per week. Stay healthy by incorporating these nutritionally balanced foods into your diet.

List of Food for Tuberculosis (TB) Patient

For tuberculosis patients, a nutrient-rich diet is crucial to support recovery. Tb patient food list include:

1. Khichdi: A wholesome dish made with rice and lentils, providing protein and essential nutrients.
2. Dahi (Yogurt): It is rich in probiotics. It aids digestion and boosts immunity.
3. Turmeric Milk: It exhibits anti-inflammatory properties that promote healing.
4. Spinach: It is high in iron and vitamins, it helps combat fatigue and boosts hemoglobin levels.
5. Almonds: These are good source of protein, healthy fats, and vitamin E for energy.
6. Amla (Indian Gooseberry): It is rich in vitamin C, it enhances immunity.
7. Garlic: It contains antibacterial properties that aid in fighting infections.
8. Jaggery: It provides iron and boosts energy levels.
9. Fresh Fruits: Fruits such as oranges, guavas, and papayas, for vitamin C and antioxidants.
10. Nimbu Pani (Lemon Water): Freshly made lemonade is hydrating and rich in vitamin C. It aids in detoxification and boosts immunity.

For a quick recovery from tuberculosis, focus on a balanced diet comprising lean, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to boost immunity and energy levels. Incorporate foods rich in vitamins C, D, and E, along with zinc and iron, to promote healing. Here is the diet plan for Tuberculosis for Indian diet.

Tuberculosis Food Avoid:

Certain foods and substances should never be consumed or used to maintain good health. These are the following food to avoid,

• Tobacco in any form should be avoided.
• Don’t drink alcohol because it can increase the risk of liver damage from some of the drugs you’re taking to treat your tuberculosis.
• Limit how much coffee and other caffeinated beverages you drink.
• Red wine, aged cheese, dried meats, tuna, and other types of fish may also be avoided. This is due to the presence of tyramine or histamine. These foods may cause the medicine to have unfavourable effects.
• Sugar, white bread, white rice, and butter, which are used to make pastries, cakes, pizza, burgers, and other junk foods, should be avoided.
• Sugar, white loaves of bread, and white rice are all refined products to avoid.
• Red meat with a lot of fat and cholesterol should be avoided.
• Deep-fried foods and unhealthy snacks high in triacylglycerols and trans fats aggravate TB ailments like severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and lethargy.

Make every effort to give your body the nutrition it needs to stay healthy and build strength so that you can fight off tuberculosis bacteria and lower your risk of relapse.

You will feel better, and faster if you eat a varied, healthy diet and avoid unhealthy habits.
It is mandatory to take TB medications regularly and to complete the treatment course as directed by your health care expert.

Regular and timely medication is critical for someone who is suffering from tuberculosis. Diet, on the other hand, is crucial for recovery and for tuberculosis prevention. This isn’t to say you should eat only exotic and organic foods. Eating a well-balanced diet aid in the fight against this bacterial infection.

Even though there is no specific diet to follow, you must ensure that the food is prepared in a sanitary manner. Make sure to eat a well-balanced diet as well. This will help in tuberculosis prevention by increasing immunity.
You should also try to increase your food intake gradually. The majority of tuberculosis patients initially have a low appetite. However, as the medications begin to work, appetite rises and food consumption rises with it.

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