Typhoid fever is an infectious disease primarily caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi. Currently, this disease affects nearly 12 million people per year. Typhoid spreads when people consume contaminated food or water (mainly contaminated by the feces of another infected person). Some common side effects of typhoid are headache, fatigue, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Though typhoid remedy food may not only treat the disease, still medications and typhoid treatment food will help you to relieve its symptoms.
What Is Typhoid Fever?
Typhoid fever is an infectious disease primarily caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi. Currently, this disease affects nearly 12 million people per year. Typhoid spreads when people consume contaminated food or water (mainly contaminated by the faeces of another infected person). Some common side effects of typhoid are headache, fatigue, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Though typhoid remedy food may not only treat the disease, still medications and typhoid treatment food will help you to relieve its symptoms.
Typhoid Fever Treatment And Food
While food alone cannot cure typhoid fever, eating the right food during typhoid treatment can help the patient recover faster. Treatment of typhoid fever is closely tied to diet as proper nutrition helps in recovery and boosts the immune system. Antibiotics are the main treatment but food plays a big role in managing symptoms and preventing complications. Eat easily digestible foods like soups, rice and boiled vegetables to avoid further irritation to the digestive system. Stay hydrated with fluids like water, oral rehydration solutions and broths to replace lost electrolytes. And avoid raw or undercooked foods to minimize the risk of re-infection and support the body’s healing process and treatment.
Following are some dietary guidelines that will help manage typhoid better :Â
1. Increase Your Carbohydrate Intake
Porridge, soft rice, baked potatoes are excellent options that you must include while preparing foods for a typhoid patient.
2. Gorge Upon Semi-Food
Eat semi-solid food if you are suffering from typhoid as it is easy to digest. Semi-solid food items that you can consume during typhoid include boiled potatoes, khichdi, porridge, boiled rice, and yogurt.
3. Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of fluid as much as possible. Typhoid may lead to severe dehydration, so take adequate fluid-like fruit juices, lassi, glucose water, lime juice, and coconut water. You may also take good servings of water-rich fruits.
4. High-Calorie Diet
Next in the list of foods to eat in typhoid fever, a high-calorie diet is suggested. Include food items such as bananas, potatoes, etc.
5. Dairy Products
Increase your consumption of dairy products such as milk and yogurt.
6. Healthy Soups
Soups like spinach soup, vegetable soup, carrot soup, chicken soup, and mushroom soup can also be consumed.
7. Boiled Drinking Water
While drinking water ensure it is boiled and filtered properly.
8. Add Proteins
Ensure that there is adequate consumption of proteins and instead of taking at a time, consume meals at short intervals.
9. Fresh Vegetables
Eat adequate cooked vegetables so that your body will get vital nutrients to get stronger. Well-cooked or boiled vegetables like potatoes, carrots, beets, raw papaya, and squash can be taken. These foods can be digested easily and will offer necessary nutrients.
10. Herbal Teas
Herbal teas are also useful in improving hydration. Moreover, these teas have antimicrobial properties. Don’t use them as medications; rather you can use them along with your medicines.
11. Honey
Honey is a healthy way to fulfill your sugar requirement when you are suffering from typhoid fever. Honey has anti-microbial properties and also eases your digestive system. Honey makes your recovery faster if you are having typhoid fever.
Food For Typhoid
When you have typhoid fever, diet plays a big role in recovery and preventing complications. Since typhoid affects the digestive system, you should eat foods that are easy to digest and gentle to the stomach. Initially, a bland diet is recommended, rice, plain toast, crackers, boiled potatoes and soups. These foods are light and won’t irritate the stomach lining, will help reduce nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms of typhoid.
Broth-based soups and clear liquids like water, coconut water and oral rehydration solutions (ORS) are important to prevent dehydration and replace lost electrolytes. Protein-rich foods like eggs, chicken and yogurt can help rebuild strength but should be consumed in moderation and in easy to digest forms to avoid further discomfort.
Avoid spicy, oily or fatty foods as they can aggravate the condition and prolong recovery. Also, raw or undercooked foods should be avoided to prevent re-infection as the bacteria that causes typhoid can be present in contaminated food and water. As recovery progresses, you can gradually introduce fruits like bananas and applesauce and cooked vegetables like carrots and spinach to boost nutrient intake and immune function. Overall, a balanced diet is key to treatment.
Foods to Eat in Typhoid
- Cooked Vegetables: potatoes, carrots, green beans, beets, squash
- Fruits: ripe bananas, melons, applesauce, canned fruit
- Grains: white rice, pasta, white bread, crackers
- Proteins: eggs, chicken, turkey, fish, tofu, ground meat
- Dairy Products: fat-free pasteurized milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream
- Beverages: bottled water, herbal tea, coconut water, juice, broth
Foods To Avoid In Typhoid Fever
- Stay away from food items that are high in fiber. Because these food items will create additional pressure on your digestive system as they are difficult to digest. Your digestive system becomes feeble due to typhoid. So, avoid high-fibrous foods as much as possible.
- Don’t consume spicy food items in typhoid. They may irritate your digestive system and the intestine. Typhoid already hurts your digestive system and further inflammation should be avoided.Â
- Discard food items that cause bloating of the stomach. Vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and asparagus can produce gas and bloat the stomach. They may create digestive pressure on the system, so avoid them.
- Restrict your consumption of ghee and butter. Fatty food could be difficult to digest and can cause complications during typhoid.
- Though dry fruits are healthy in typhoid, they contain high fiber. Fiber is beneficial under normal circumstances, but it is not good during typhoid. So, nuts like almonds, pistachios, cashew, etc. should also be avoided.
- Legumes like chickpeas, lentils, and kidney beans may cause a gassy stomach. In typhoid, you should avoid food items that produce gas.
Also Read : Top Causes of Typhoid Disease
Typhoid Diet : Downsides And Side Effects
- The typhoid diet is a short-time diet that is specially designed to get relief from digestive symptoms caused by typhoid fever.
- This type of diet excludes many nutritious foods and thus, you can’t continue them for a longer period. Your healthcare provider will give a specific diet that will treat your typhoid fever. Once you overcome typhoid, you can presume your regular diet plan slowly.
- Increasing your fiber intake abruptly may cause some side effects, such as gas and bloat. Always keep in mind that the typhoid diet is planned to treat or prevent typhoid fever.
- Always practice proper food safety and hygiene to prevent typhoid fever and other foodborne illnesses. If you are staying in an area or traveling to an area where typhoid fever is common, you may get vaccinated a few weeks before your trip.
- Finally, if you are suspecting of having typhoid fever, talk to a healthcare professional to determine the right treatment for your disease.
Food For Typhoid : The Bottom Line
Typhoid is a life-threatening condition. Instead of self-treating, consult a doctor and discuss your typhoid symptoms. Take his/her professional expertise regarding medication and dietary changes. All the above-mentioned foods may make your recovery faster, but don’t treat them as a replacement for typhoid medication.
Typhoid Diet: FAQs
Can We Eat Cashews In Typhoid?
Avoid eating nuts such as cashews when you are having typhoid. The doctor does not recommend taking quinoa, dried fruits, or raw vegetables during Typhoid. Many people also have a habit of drinking tea, but you should not be taking beverages.
Can We Eat Guava During Typhoid?
Guava can be a great option to eat during Typhoid. These Fruits will be helpful for typhoid patients because they contain vitamins and minerals. Normally, fruits such as watermelon, sweet melon, apricots, and many others are effective. Taking a bowl of ripe bananas, guavas, and many other fruits will be helpful for your diet.
Can We Eat Tomato Soup With Typhoid?
Taking tomato soup is a great option as it is nutrient-rich and easy to gulp. It also increases appetite in patients having Typhoid. It is also a convenient option to consume mushroom soup, chicken soup, mixed vegetable soup, and tomato soup.
Can I Eat Chapati On Typhoid?
You must not eat chapati when you have a typhoid condition. Chapati contains a high amount of fiber, and it is hard to digest. Normally, typhoid patients need to avoid eating Chapati or roti. Avoid chapatis till the fever comes down to normalcy. These can lead to liver impairment as the heavy foods are not digested.
What Is Bad For Typhoid?
Avoid foods that are hard to digest when you are recovering from typhoid fever. You must avoid fat and food that are high in fiber. Typhoid patients are also required to avoid foods such as potato chips, doughnuts, fried chicken, and mozzarella sticks. Avoid High-fiber foods such as barley, oats, and dried nuts.
References:
- Typhoid fever. National Health Service (NHS) [Internet]. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/typhoid-fever/. Accessed Mar 18, 2022.
- Typhoid Fever. The Johns Hopkins University [Internet]. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/typhoid-fever. Accessed Mar 20, 2022.
- Typhoid Fever. NYC Government [Internet]. https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/typhoid-fever.page. Accessed Mar 14, 2022.
- Typhoid Treatment. News-Medical.Net [Internet]. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Typhoid-Treatment.aspx. Accessed Mar 16, 2022.
- Preventing Foodborne Illness: Typhoid Fever—Salmonella Typhi. University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FS125. Accessed Mar 22, 2022.
