Eat These Foods For Speedy Recovery During Pneumonia

Pneumonia is basically a lung infection that leads to inflammation of air sacs in the lungs. In severe cases, the lungs might be filled with fluid or pus and can even be life-threatening. The main symptoms of the diseases are cough, cold, difficulty in breathing, pain in the chest, and chills.

Mild to moderate cases usually take 10-15 days to recover fully with the help of antibiotics. More severe cases might need an extra oxygen supply and can take longer to recover.

Here are a few food items you can eat in order to speed-up your recovery:

Oranges

Orange is loaded with vitamin C which is an amazing antioxidant for the body. Vitamin C also helps in boosting the immune system which further helps in getting rid of pneumonia. Make sure you don’t eat very sour oranges when you are suffering from a bad throat as it might worsen it. You can also consume other citrus foods such as lemon, berries, and kiwi for a good dose of vitamin C.

Whole Grains

When a person is suffering from pneumonia, the side effects of the disease is drained energy. The chest pain and breathing difficulty when paired with cold and fever, drains out the energy of the patient. In such a situation, your body needs an optimum dose of energy to refill on the lost one. Make sure your diet is rich in carbohydrates. You can eat foods like oats, brown rice, and quinoa. Vitamin B helps in keeping a check on the body temperature and selenium strengthens the immune system.

Green Vegetables

Green leafy vegetables are usually recommended for a healthy and balanced diet. They not only help in keeping the health up to the mark but also helps pneumonia patients recover. They are a rich source of antioxidants and helps in flushing out the toxins from the body. You can include seasonal vegetables to your diet, as and when they are available. Vegetables like spinach, cauliflower, lettuce, and coriander are good to start with.

Yogurt

Yogurt is known for containing good bacteria which is beneficial for the body. It contains probiotics which hampers the growth of pneumonia causing microbes. You can also consume other probiotic drinks, if available, as they have the same effect on the body as yogurt. You must include yogurt in your diet as it also helps in strengthening the immune system.

Protein-Rich Diet

Though a balanced diet is prescribed to pneumonia patients, more significance is given to protein-rich foods. Foods such as eggs, tofu, cheese, legumes, and nuts are high in protein content. Protein-rich foods have the capability to help a pneumonia patient recover, as they have anti-inflammatory properties. Protein also facilitates the growth of new tissues and disposes off the damaged ones.

Honey

Honey is an age-old ingredient that is known for its healing benefits. Pneumonia patients must include honey in their diet, as it eases the harsh symptoms of cold, cough, and bad throat. You can either add honey to your lemonade or warm it a bit and consume it raw.

Turmeric-Ginger Milk

Ginger is used in treating almost all respiratory diseases and is beneficial for pneumonia patients as well. It helps in reducing chest pain and all fights of pneumonia-causing microbes. Turmeric is another wonder ingredient that helps in reducing pain with its anti-inflammatory properties. It naturally removes the mucus from bronchial ducts and eases breathing. The best way to consume the two is by adding them to warm milk.

Make sure you keep your immune system active in order to prevent this disease to harm you further. Eat a balanced diet and stay away from alcohol. Inculcate 30 minutes of exercise in your daily routine to keep your body fit and agile.

Please note that before following any dietary suggestion, as mentioned in this article, you should consult your physician. For more on health and nutrition, keep reading HerZindagi.