Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Humans. It is spread by the infected sputum of a tubercular people when they cough, sneeze or spit. The main symptoms of tuberculosis are weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, chill and cough with blood. Along with the tubercular drugs proper diet should be maintained to overcome tuberculosis. The main reasons for Tuberculosis are malnutrition, unhygienic living conditions and weak immune system. So healthy diet will strengthen the immune system, prevents the weight loss caused by tuberculosis.
Diet Plan for Tuberculosis:
• Calcium is the chief therapeutic agent need to cure TB. Milk is the rich source for calcium. So a Tubercular patient should take at least 2 pints of milk a day. Taking milk for every 2 hours really helps.
• Diet should include easily digestible food. Fruits and vegetables are easily digestible and should have at least 2 cups of fruits and 2 and a half cup of vegetables a day
• All kinds of vegetables (dark green vegetables, orange, legumes, starchy vegetables, and other vegetables).
• Daily diet should include whole grains. 3 or more ounces of whole grains should be consumed a day. This will help maintain the weight and lower the heart risk.
• Protein rich diet should be taken like soybean, Fish, egg, nuts and legumes.
• Bitter gourd has beneficial effect on tubercular patients which should be included in the diet.
• As TB patients suffers from lack of appetite meal should be made easily digestible high energy and administer a 6 meal pattern.
• Alcohol should be prevented in patients with TB as it may cause liver damage when reacted with Isoniazid, pyrazinamide and rifampin.
• Vitamins are very important to improve the immunity. So include vitamin A, C, D and E rich diet. Vitamin A, C and E are anti-oxidants and prevent free radical formation. Free radicals will destroy the cells and tissues and may lead to chronic disease.
An Ideal diet a day should be as follows:
• Breakfast: fresh and low fat milk, fruits. Prunes or dry fruits can also be taken
• Lunch: 1 or 2 ounces of whole grain, steamed vegetables, one glass of butter milk
• Mid afternoon: a glass of fresh juice or sugarcane juice
• Dinner: one bowl of salad, one bowl fruits and one whole bread.
• At bed time: A glass of milk.