Typhoid is one infectious bacterial disease spread by Salmonella bacteria. The disease generally spreads during the monsoon season.
Typhoid is generally caused when we consume contaminated food items or in unhygienic areas with contaminated water. Typhoid is CONTAGIOUS that means it can be spread by the host to someone else. When a patient suffers from typhoid, he/she is monitored closely.
The disease generally occurs due to the consumption of contaminated food or water. The common symptoms include
- fever,
- stomach pain,
- headache,
- Chills,
- Constipation,
- vomiting,
- weakness and
- loose stool.
If the disease isn’t cured properly, a person loses weight. Even the disease becomes life-threatening if it is not treated.
Patients with Typhoid suffer from several health issues, the major problem is gastrointestinal discomfort therefore they require a special diet plan. The diet should be full of food items that are light and easy to digest and gives strength to the immune system. The following are the food items that must be included in a typhoid patient’s diet.
What to eat and what to avoid during Typhoid:
-
Carbohydrate Intake:
Increase the intake of carbohydrate in your diet, you can add rice, porridge, baked potatoes, poached eggs in your daily meal. These food items are easy to digest and the carbohydrate in them is helpful for a typhoid patient. It is recommended by doctors to add such carbohydrate-rich items to a patient’s diet.
-
Increase your fluids intake:
Typhoid is a deadly disease, patients should take more fluids because Typhoid causes a severe dehydration problem to a patient. It is imperative to provide a good amount of fluid to the body, you can have fruit juices, lime water, coconut water, glucose water. Also, you can add water-rich fruits in your daily diets such as grapes, watermelons, oranges, and apricots, these will restore the water in the body that gets depleted due to typhoid fever.
-
High-calorie food items:
Doctors also recommend having more high-calorie food items such as banana, boiled potatoes, pasta, boiled rice, white bread, etc. Typhoid patients should eat these food items in small portions, it will help you in providing energy and strength to the body.
-
Dairy Products:
Ensure the more consumption of dairy products. Include milk, yogurt in your diet. Also, intake an adequate amount of protein, you can get it from eggs. These are easy to digest than meat. And if you are vegetarian then go for lentils, legumes, and cottage cheese. Boiled yellow daal is one good option to fulfill protein requirements.
-
Soups:
Homemade soups are good for health as they not only fulfill the water deficiency in the body but also add nutrients to the body. Spinach soup, chicken soup, vegetable soup, carrot soup, and mushroom soups are few good options to add in a typhoid patient’s diet.
-
Have food rich in Omega-3
You can also shift towards food that contains omega-3 fatty acids that help in the reduction of inflammation in your body. So you can definitely include this food like flax seeds, walnuts, mixed green veggies.
-
Make sure that you save semi-solid food items to typhoid patients as it is easy indigestion.
-
Also, ensure that the patient is having enough of proteins in his/her diet.
-
The meals given to Typhoid patients should be light and easily digestible. Also have small meals frequently.
-
To complete your water deficiency the patient can also have coconut water, fruit juices, glucose water or lassi in their diet.
What not to eat during Typhoid?
- Avoid food items like capsicum and cabbage that can cause gas or bloat.
- Avoid food with a strong flavor.
- Avoid high-high-fiber food.
- Say a big NO to spicy food items.
- Limit the intake of butter or ghee in your diet.
Also, Read, 10 Reasons you should avoid Fast Food
Some precautionary measures that you can practice are:
- Wash your hands before you cook food for the patient and also ask the patient to wash hands.
- Avoid unpeeled fruits or veggies that cannot be peeled.
- Avoid pre-packaged food or fast food. Try to serve food that is freshly prepared.
- Ensure that you wash vegetables and fruits before you cook or eat.
- Avoid purchasing from vendors that do not maintain proper hygiene.
- Always drink purified water.
One important thing to note down is that plain water consumption should be more to save yourself from dehydration, also boil it before you drink. And all these mentioned food items should be taken in a small proportion in frequent time intervals.
Disclaimer: This is just a general piece of content written for public welfare and let people know about the home remedies they can follow. If you see any symptoms of Typhoid, visit your doctor and seek medical attention immediately.
Stay tuned to Dr. B. Lal Pharmacy