What foods should you avoid for tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is a curable disease, but it takes a lot of patience and persistence on the part of the sufferer. Tuberculosis can be contracted at any age, although it’s rare for someone under 15 to develop TB. It’s important to understand the things you should avoid for tuberculosis treatment.
What foods should you avoid for tuberculosis? you may be asking. The answer to this common question will surely give you a good idea of what to prevent yourself from consuming. This is essential to your recovery and overcoming tuberculosis infections.
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Tuberculosis Prevention Food
Once you have been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), there are certain foods that should be avoided to support your body’s fight against the disease and its symptoms:
- Foods containing caffeine
- Alcohol
- Spicy foods
- Fermented foods
- Gas producing foods
If you have tuberculosis, you may need to limit certain foods in your diet. This section will help you learn which foods to avoid while you are being treated.
You might be able to eat some of these foods if they are well-cooked, canned, or processed. Ask your doctor or registered dietitian which foods are best to avoid.
Avoid Foods That Are High in Acid
When you have tuberculosis, your body is already battling an infection. Avoiding certain foods may benefit your overall health and well-being. Foods that are high in acid can negatively affect the condition of your teeth, which may make it difficult for you to chew and swallow without discomfort.
Since tuberculosis can cause loss of appetite, it is important for you to avoid eliminating any food groups that provide vitamins or minerals that your body needs to stay healthy.
A diet that is high in acid can cause stomach irritation and exacerbate symptoms of tuberculosis. Foods that are high in acid include citrus fruits and juices, such as lemons, oranges, grapefruit, and pineapple.
Other foods that can worsen the symptoms of tuberculosis include spicy foods, such as red pepper or chili powder, and caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and soda. If you have tuberculosis, limit your intake of these acidic foods to reduce the risk of stomach irritation.
Stay Away From Gas-Producing Foods
Many foods can cause gas, and people with tuberculosis need to avoid these foods. You must also avoid fried or fatty foods. Avoid sodas, which contain carbonation that can irritate your stomach. Limit spicy foods as well.
Avoid eating gas-producing food such as beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts as they may worsen your condition by increasing the amount of gas produced in the gastrointestinal system.
Don’t Eat Raw or Undercooked Foods
When you are on TB medication, your body cannot process vitamin K properly, so it is important to avoid eating too much raw or undercooked food that contains vitamin K. It is also important to eat a balanced diet in order to stay healthy.
Raw and undercooked foods may contain bacteria, which can spread TB. Fruits and vegetables are particularly likely to contain this type of bacteria because they are close to the ground and may come into contact with animal waste.
Avoid Dairy Products
Dairy products can increase mucus production and also require a lot of energy to digest, which can weaken your immune system.
Some dairy products are even harder for your body to digest than others. For example, lots of people have trouble digesting milk from cows. This is because the protein in cow’s milk is different from the protein in human breast milk. You might be able to drink soy or other plant-based milk without having stomach problems.
If you’re not sure whether you can tolerate dairy foods, try cutting them out of your diet for 2 weeks. If you don’t notice any change in your symptoms, you may be able to add them back into your diet in small amounts.
People with TB should avoid unpasteurized dairy products from an infected cow. They should only eat dairy products that are pasteurized and have no contact with sick animals.
Do not eat too much protein
Protein is an essential nutrient for building cells and bones, and it is a major component of the immune system. However, too much protein may cause tuberculosis symptoms to worsen, according to the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association. Most Americans get more protein than they need in their diets, so reducing your intake of protein-rich foods may help minimize tuberculosis symptoms and improve your health.
Protein Sources
Most protein sources have a high energy content, especially when compared to carbohydrate-rich or fat-rich foods. Foods rich in protein include:
- Meat
- Poultry
- Seafood
- Eggs
- Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
- Beans and legumes, including lentils and peas
- Nuts and seeds
A tuberculosis doctor will likely recommend eating high-protein foods sparingly while you recover from tuberculosis to avoid burning more calories than you can consume. According to Mayo Clinic, TB sufferers experience frequent weight loss as a result of their illness, which makes it important for them to consume sufficient calories during recovery. Protein contains 4 calories per gram, which means that eating too much protein can increase energy levels without providing enough calories needed for healthy recovery.
Don’t eat too much sugar
TB can be treated and cured with antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe medication to help fight TB bacteria. To help improve your health, you should also pay attention to your diet and avoid added sugars as much as possible.
Why High-Sugar Foods Should Be Avoided for tuberculosis?
There are two reasons why you should avoid high-sugar foods if you have TB:
- Consumption of sugar provides energy to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in the lungs. This makes the infection more difficult to treat.
- High sugar intake increases inflammation in the body. Inflammation can suppress the immune response, which slows down healing. The immune system is responsible for fighting against infections such as TB.
Foods to eat for tuberculosis
Foods that are good for tuberculosis patients are ones that are easily digested, nutritious, and rich in vitamins.
Some of these foods include:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables, such as apples, cranberries, peas, carrots, spinach, and green leafy vegetables
- Whole grains such as brown rice, millet, oatmeal, and whole wheat bread
- Other foods such as lean meats (not pork), poultry, fish, eggs, and low-fat dairy products
FAQ’S
What food is good for pulmonary tuberculosis?
Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis can eat foods that are rich in vitamins, which include fresh fruits and vegetables
Can TB be cured permanently?
Tuberculosis (TB) is curable and preventable. Treatment should always be taken under the supervision of a doctor who has experience in treating TB.
Why TB patients lose weight?
The reason why most people with TB lose weight is that they stop eating and lose their appetite. Before starting treatment, many people with TB are too ill to eat and lose their appetites.
Takeaway
When a person is sick and suffering from TB, the body automatically weakens. The immune system does not function properly and the body cannot resist the disease effectively, so it is important for people with TB to maintain a healthy diet, which includes eating the right nutrients at the right time and keeping away from toxins such as alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs.
Once you’ve been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), your doctor will put you on medications to kill the bacteria that is causing the disease. You may have to stay on these drugs for up to six months, depending upon the severity of your case.