TB and Diet

Overview

There is no specific food that is needed by a person suffering from tuberculosis. A person with TB needs no special food; however, they should try and eat a balanced diet. A few people with TB also assume that more expensive foods are more beneficial than less expensive ones, which is absolutely not true. For example, it is not true that costlier grades of rice are any better in nutrition than cheaper grades.

It is often better that a person with TB has the exact diet like a normal person's but possibly with some changes being made to boost their food intake. People with tuberculosis often have a poor appetite initially, but having a more frequent food intake can be helpful.

In a few weeks of beginning the treatment, a TB patient's appetite should improve and get back to normal. A person suffering from an infection should strive to have three meals as well as snacks every day to increase the amount of food they consume.

A healthy balanced diet for TB

A person suffering from tuberculosis should aim to have a balanced and healthy diet. It can be attained by consuming foods from four basic food groups. These include:

• Vegetables and fruits
• Cereals, millets and pulses
• Oils, fats and nuts and oils seeds.
• Milk and milk products, meat, eggs & fish
• A food group is a group of foods that share related nutritional properties. When the food eaten contains food from all the mentioned food groups, then your diet is considered balanced and healthy. Not all the food groups have to be consumed at every meal.

Essential nutrients for TB

An essential nutrient is a nutrient that needs to be rendered by a person's diet, especially when suffering from such a life-threatening infection. These nutrients are a must for your body to function well. The six essential nutrients comprise protein, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, vitamins & water.

Bodybuilding foods-Proteins    

• Pulses, nuts and some oilseeds
• Milk & milk products
• Fish, meat, poultry

Energy-rich foods- Carbohydrates & fats 

• Whole grain cereals, millets.
• Vegetable oils, ghee, butter.
• Nuts and oilseeds. Sugars.

Protective foods-Vitamins & minerals    

• Green leafy vegetables.
• Other vegetables & fruits.
• Eggs, milk & milk products and fresh foods.

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