Diet for Typhoid Patients: Importance & Types of Food to Include

Typhoid is a fatal bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi. It spreads by consuming food or water contaminated by the faeces of an infected person. Individuals usually experience symptoms such as fever, headaches, diarrhoea, chills, constipation, spleen and liver enlargement.

A proper diet can help the victims cope with the symptoms. Although following a proper diet chart cannot potentially cure the disease altogether, it can help to alleviate these symptoms.

Read along to know everything about the typhoid diet!

We know that prevention is better than cure. Unless you adhere to a proper diet, you are prone to severe illnesses. Adequate intake of nutrients will help prevent diseases. Likewise, a diet chart for typhoid patients primarily focuses on boosting your immune system.

Typhoid fever develops gradually over weeks and shows multiple symptoms. So, your diet chart for typhoid must consist of food items that are easy to break down. Gastrointestinal discomforts are recurrent typhoid symptoms. So, it is crucial to include easy to digest food in your diet.

Typhoid makes the victim’s body extremely weak. Patients suffer from nausea and loss of appetite. Therefore, it is important for them to follow a proper diet plan to restore their strength. 

Here are some foods that individuals should include in their diet while suffering from typhoid:

• Food with High Amount of Calories: Food for typhoid patients should be bland but should meet the calorie requirement of the patient. This type of diet will help in  making up for weight loss among patients. Foods that have an abundance of calories are bread, cereals, boiled potatoes, etc.

• Food Rich in Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates provide the necessary energy to the body. Individuals can include porridge, baked potato, boiled rice, etc., in their food chart as they are rich in carbohydrates. Patients can eat them in a semi-solid form as it’s easier to digest.

• Plenty of Fluids: Typhoid may result in severe dehydration. It is vital to remain hydrated during typhoid fever. Furthermore, liquid consumption will supply the necessary nutrients to the patients and maintain the body's fluid balance. Patients can intake fluid in the form of fruit juices, buttermilk, electrolyte fortified water, etc.

• Dairy Products: Patients should consume dairy products in abundance. Dairy products like milk, yoghurt, paneer etc., compensate for the protein deficiency in the body. Yoghurt contains bifidobacteria that prevents bloating and eases bowel movement within a few weeks. Furthermore, including milk, curd in your typhoid diet speeds up the recovery process.

• Food Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Food rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps reduce bloating and inflammation in the body. Foods to eat during typhoid should be highly nutritious and rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Soya beans, nuts, eggs etc., are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Furthermore, having soups will also help the patient as they are extremely rich in nutrients and easily digestible. Other typhoid foods to eat are bananas, yellow moong dal, honey, etc.

Along with knowing about the proper typhoid diet, you should also know about the food to avoid while suffering from typhoid. They are:

• High-fibre Food: Food with high amounts of fibre will distress the patient's digestive system as they are difficult to digest. It is advised to stay away from foods like oats, barley etc., as they put stress on the stomach.
• Raw Food: Avoid eating raw, unpeeled fruits or vegetables as they might have contaminants that will adversely affect your health.
• Spicy and Oily Food: Diet for typhoid patients should not include foods like chilli, vinegar, jalapenos, paprika etc., as these will irritate the digestive tract and lead to inflammation.
• Ghee and Butter: Although it is recommended to have dairy products, fatty foods like ghee, butter, mozzarella, etc., is hard to digest and can result in further complications.

Furthermore, refrain from eating food like cabbage, asparagus, cauliflower etc., that cause gas and bloating and stay away from onions and garlic as they cause inflammation. Avoid having high fibre food as it is difficult to digest and can affect the proper functioning of the digestive system.

On the whole, a diet plan for typhoid patients requires utmost attention. Adopting a proper diet is an effective way to fight against the symptoms. So, it is extremely vital to look after your diet while suffering from typhoid. Follow a proper typhoid diet to prevent serious consequences.