Diet For Dengue Patients

Food for Dengue Patient Recovery

Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease that affects an individual’s health adversely. High fever, joint pain, nausea, etc., are its initial symptoms. However, the infection can escalate without proper treatment and damage blood and lymph vessels, ultimately leading to dengue haemorrhagic fever.  

Besides proper medication and rest, individuals must also incorporate healthy food items into their diet chart for steady recovery. One’s dengue diet plan can impact the overall recovery progress. Hence, affected individuals must have food rich in protein and iron. It will strengthen the immune system and help them recover from dengue fever quickly. 

8 Best Food for Dengue Patients

Here is the list of food items that are highly recommended for dengue-affected individuals: 

1. Water/Coconut Water

Patients need to keep their bodies hydrated for a fast recovery from dengue. Hence, one should consume adequate water. In addition, drinking coconut water will also help the body heal very fast as it is rich in electrolytes and minerals. 

2. Orange

Oranges are one such fruit that one must include in their diet to recover from dengue. It is highly fibrous and rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C promotes antibodies which facilitate faster healing. Oranges are also high in antioxidants in the body and help treat indigestion. Hence, it is an essential part of the diet for dengue patients.

3. Curd and Buttermilk

Curds add probiotics and help with indigestion. Dengue-affected individuals must include curd to fight the virus and the spreading of bacterial infection. Both curd and buttermilk stimulate the digestive system. 

4. Papaya

Papayas are considered great for treating dengue. Affected individuals must have papaya and its extract in the form of juice. As the platelet count drops, one must have papaya to help boost the platelet count. Even one can consume papaya leaf juices. Papaya leaves have essential enzymes like chymopapain and papain, which regulate platelet count. It is a popular home remedy to cure dengue fever, provide the body with necessary nutrients, and improve the patient's immunity. 

5. Other Fruits

Besides eating papaya, one can also start having fresh fruits like banana, apple, pomegranate, guava etc. to replenish the lost minerals and vitamins in the body. Fruits also help reduce fatigue and provide energy. Patients can be given fruits in the form of juices.

6. Vegetable Soups

Besides having fruits and juices, it is equally important for the patients to have a wholesome platter of food, which can be consumed in the form of soups. To make the soup protein-rich, one can also add paneer, soya chunks and other protein-rich food items into it. 

7. Herbal Tea

One can also include herbal tea in a dengue diet plan. Herbal tea is loaded with nutrients and minerals that help the body of the affected in several ways. One can also opt for ginger or cardamom tea as these have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Besides nourishing the body, the refreshing tea flavour will soothe one's mind. 

8. Almonds and raisins

Patients should also consume almonds as they are rich in vitamin E, helping in boosting strength and immunity. Even consuming raisins helps improve platelet count. 

In addition to these, one can have pomegranate juice, green leafy vegetables, flaxseed oil etc. to increase their platelet count.

Apart from following a healthy diet for dengue patients, you must opt for proper treatment to recover from dengue. Delayed treatment and medication is the reason behind the surge in dengue casualties in the country. 

Though the treatment is expensive, you must ensure on-time treatment. In this regard, you can consider getting a Dengue Insurance Policy. It will help you protect your finances from draining and curbing the severity of the disease. You will receive a high coverage limit at an affordable premium. Moreover, you will receive compensation for pre-hospitalisation, hospitalisation, medication expenses, etc. 

Food to Avoid for Dengue Patients

Besides knowing the foods to eat in dengue that will help one’s body recover from dengue, you must also know the food to avoid for dengue patients: 

1. Anyone down with dengue must avoid having oily and spicy food, foods high in saturated fats, aerated drinks, and processed food. 

2. Affected individuals should avoid oily foods and instead opt for boiled and blenched food.

3. One should also avoid having whole refined flour, cream cheese, red meats, seafood, dark chocolate etc. as these are foods that are difficult to digest.

4. Moreover, foods that are high in salicylates should be avoided.

3-Day Dengue Diet Plan

Here’s a detailed 3-day diet plan for those suffering from dengue fever to help soothe and recover your health.

*Note: You can fulfil each nutrient with any easily accessible resource. For example, if salmon as a lean protein supplement isn’t readily available, you could replace it with chicken breast, tofu, lentils, etc. A little research on each food group and consulting a dietician could go a long way for an effective dengue recovery diet.

Conclusion 

To sum up, a well-nourished body can fight any disease. Hence, dengue-affected individuals need to include high protein and iron-rich foods in their diet. Dengue patients are asked to have bland food for better digestion. A proper dengue diet accelerates the recovery rate. You need to know what to eat and avoid to recover from serious diseases like dengue. 

You can also check out different Pocket Insurance plans to safeguard their families from specific illnesses available under the category of Pocket Insurance plans on Bajaj Markets.