Malaria diet: What to eat and what to avoid for fast recovery
A healthy diet is important for speedy recovery
A well-balanced diet plays a crucial role in recovery. A plate full of healthy and nourishing food not only provides you with energy but also speeds up the recovery process by healing your body from inside. The same goes for people suffering from malaria.
Malaria is a vector-borne disease, which is transmitted by Anopheline mosquitoes. The blood platelet of patients suffering from malaria decreases considerably leading to weakness, fever and muscle cramps. There is no specific diet for malaria, but adequate nutrition is crucial to improvement. Here are some dietary tips for speedy recovery from malaria.
Keep yourself hydrated
Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated. You can even include coconut water, lemon water and fruits that contain a high amount of water like cucumber, oranges. Water helps to flush out toxins from the body and helps you recover faster. Besides, when suffering from malaria, patients generally experience loss of appetite. Drinking ample amounts of water can compensate for that and will keep you energetic.
Include healthy protein
Malaria can lead to loss of muscle and make a person feel excessively weak. Increasing protein intake is one of the best things you can do for your health to recover from malaria. Protein is the building block of life. It is required by every cell and tissue to repair itself. So, consuming extra protein at this time may accelerate the recovery. Legumes, nuts, green vegetables and dairy products are some common sources of protein.
Decrease fat intake
Just like carbs and protein, fat is also a vital macronutrient required by our body for several functions, but it should be consumed in moderation. Consuming too much fatty and fried food can lead to the problem of indigestion, further worsening your condition. Moreover, add healthy sources of fat in your diet, containing omega 3. Omega-3 fats have anti-inflammatory properties that will help to reduce inflammation in the body.
Foods to avoid
Avoid all kinds of fried, spicy and fatty foods. Intake of vegetables and fruits containing a high amount of fiber should also be reduced during this time. High intake of coffee, tea, fizzy drinks and other caffeinated beverages can also cause a problem. For quick recovery it is good to have light food that is easy to digest.