Contents:
- Medical Video: Tuberculosis: What You and Your Family Should Know (Navajo)
- What is the diet for TB sufferers like?
- Carbohydrate source
- Source of animal protein
- Source of vegetable protein
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- What about fat sources?
- What should I avoid when suffering from tuberculosis?
Medical Video: Tuberculosis: What You and Your Family Should Know (Navajo)
TB is one of the 10 most common causes of death in the world, according to WHO. This disease is included in infectious diseases caused by bacteria, but this disease can be treated and prevented. One way to prevent or treat tuberculosis is to meet your nutritional needs. This is so that your immune system is strong in fighting infection as a cause of tuberculosis. Malnutrition can make tuberculosis (TB) worse and longer to heal.
What is the diet for TB sufferers like?
TB sufferers must eat a lot. Although in general TB patients experience decreased appetite, nausea, and vomiting due to the influence of the drugs they consume, but adequate food consumption is also one of the conditions for healing TB patients. Fulfillment of nutrition for TB patients aims to maintain body weight and also to strengthen the patient's immune system.
READ ALSO: Why Do TB Patients Have to Eat Much?
Then, how should I eat when I suffer from tuberculosis? Easy. It might be too complicated for you if you have to calculate the nutritional value of the food you eat one by one. But, calm down because you don't need to do this. The most important thing is that you fulfill 5 groups of food in your plate, consisting of:
Carbohydrate source
TB patients really need a lot of energy obtained from food sources of carbohydrates. The energy obtained from these foods is used as fuel for cells in the body to do its job. Of course, the cells in our body need a lot of energy to fight infection. Carbohydrates are also used by the body to maintain body weight or nutritional status. Less weight in TB patients can make tuberculosis worse. Carbohydrate needs in TB patients are more than carbohydrate needs in normal people. Sources of carbohydrates can be obtained from rice, porridge, rice, potatoes, bread, and others.
Source of animal protein
Protein needs are also needed by TB patients more than normal people. Proteins are used by the body to prevent and reduce tissue damage and also to keep the patient's body weight in a normal range. Cells that play a role in fighting infection certainly need a protein source to strengthen the attack. You must get a source of protein from two sources, namely animal sources and vegetable sources. Animal sources, for example chicken, lean meat, fish, seafood, milk, cheese, eggs, and so on.
Source of vegetable protein
Just as a source of animal protein, the body's vegetable protein source is also needed to strengthen the immune system. So, the body is better able to fight infections from TB disease. Sources of vegetable protein, for example tofu, tempeh, kidney beans, green beans, soybeans, and much more.
Vegetables
In vegetables, you can get various vitamins and minerals needed by the body, especially if you have TB. Yes, vitamins and minerals, especially those rich in antioxidants (such as vitamin A and vitamin C), can help your body strengthen the immune system. This is important to speed up healing of TB patients. Don't forget to fill your plate with vegetables, such as spinach, beans, cassava leaves, long beans, labusiam, and many other types of vegetables that you can consume.
Fruits
Not forgetting are fruits. Fruit also contains many important vitamins and minerals needed to help the body fight infection. You can eat these fruits directly as a dessert after a meal or juice can be made as your drink. You can eat the kind of fruit you like, no taboos.
Make sure at one meal, you fill the five groups of food in your plate. Ideally, you eat the main food 3 times a day and 2 meals interlude among the main foods. Intermediate food can be in the form of bread, milk, fruit, vegetable salads, and other healthy foods in small portions.
READ ALSO: Why Treatment for Tuberculosis Takes Months?
What about fat sources?
On the TBC diet which is more emphasized here is a high intake of energy and protein. However, you also need to consume fat sources, but within normal limits. You should also be smarter in choosing fat intake, choose food intake that contains unsaturated fats rather than saturated fat or trans fat. As much as possible, you should limit consumption of foods that contain trans fat (from fried or fast food).
You can get unsaturated fats from consumption of fish oil, nuts and olive oil. When choosing meat or milk, you should choose lean meat and low-fat milk. Also, reduce the consumption of fried foods and contain coconut milk, especially if you feel nauseous.
What should I avoid when suffering from tuberculosis?
The point is that you adopt a healthy lifestyle by consuming a variety of healthy foods, doing regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and abandoning your bad habits. No less important is always to routinely take the medication prescribed by a doctor. All of these things can help you recover faster from tuberculosis.
Some habits that you must reduce or avoid when suffering from tuberculosis are:
- Limit consumption of caffeinated drinks, such as coffee and soft drinks
- Limit consumption of foods with high fat, such as fatty meats and innards
- Stop your smoking habits and stay away from cigarette smoke. Cigarettes can worsen the condition of your lungs.
- Also stop drinking alcohol. Alcohol can increase the risk of liver damage, apart from some of the drugs you consume to treat tuberculosis.
READ ALSO: Get to know the symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) in children
