Diet for Measles
Measles is an infection of the respiratory system which is caused by a virus of the genus Morbillivirus and species paramyxovirus. This is a single strand RNA virus. Measles is a communicable disease, which spreads through respiration, that is, by contact with the fluids from the infected person. The average incubation span of the infection is fourteen days and infectivity lasts for four to five days. The common symptoms of this ailment are fever, cough, runny nose or coryza and conjunctivitis. The most visible symptom of the affliction is the appearance of characteristic measles spots which initially occur on the face and then spread on the entire body.
The Measles virus is highly contagious and is an airborne pathogen which primarily spreads through the respiratory system. The virus may be transmitted through respiratory secretions. Once the virus invades the body, it replicates in various organs like the urinary tract, lymphatic nodules, blood vessels, and central nervous system.
The ailment may be cured by following a specific diet. The recommended diet for Measles is as follows:
• Freshly extracted juices of fruits like oranges and lemons are important as the patient loses appetite and these juices help to regain it. Oranges are particularly recommended for the treatment of Measles on account of their digestive properties. The agreeable flavor of the fruit helps in the secretion of saliva and enhances appetite.
• The patient may be given an all fruit diet for a few days to enable the cleansing of the body and also to provide the essential vitamins and minerals lost as a result of the illness.
• Turmeric is highly recommended for the treatment of Measles. The patient must be given foods that have turmeric added as a condiment. Also, the patient may consume bitter gourd juice mixed with honey and turmeric to cure the affliction.
• The patient can also consume barley water to relieve the ailment.
• The patient must be given foods rich in Vitamin A so as to enhance the resistance of the body. These foods include carrot, beet root and papaya.
• The patient may also consume parsley for quick healing and recovery.
• The patient must also consume powdered liquorice with honey as it helps relieve the severe cough, which a major symptom of the disease.
• The afflicted individual may also consume seeds of the egg plant which helps in developing an immunity against Measles.
You must make these alterations in your diet for Measles. You are also advised to consult a doctor and follow the prescribed course of medication.
Diet for Healthy Immune System
The immune system is an important biological system of the body that maintains the resistance of the body against various infections and diseases. It works in collaboration with other systems of the body and also acts as the body’s shield against infections. The main functions of the immune system are:
• The immune system destroys harmful and infectious microorganisms thereby protecting the body from ailments.
• The immune system recognizes harmful foreign substances like germs, pollen, and dust and forms antibodies against the same to prevent the recurrence of these ailments.
You can maintain the health of the immune system by consuming a balanced and nutritious diet. A diet to boost the health of the immune system should have the following elements:
• Consume a diet which is low in fat content as high consumption of fat makes you susceptible to diseases like diabetes and heart ailments. These ailments are not caused by infection and hence, the immune system may not be able to protect the body against these ailments.
• Complement the low fat diet with fibrous foods in your diet as fiber reduces the hazard of degenerative diseases. Also, it cleanses the stomach, thereby getting rid of the infectious bacteria in the stomach which may cause infections.
• You should consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. You must eat green beans, nuts, whole grains, seaweeds and foods rich in chlorophyll.
• You must consume a diet that is high in protein content as protein deficiency leads to negative effects on the entire immune system. Proteins are instrumental in preventing the wastage of body tissues in case of an invasion of the body by infectious organisms.
• You are advised to drink plenty of water. Water stimulates all the systems of the body and also facilitates functions like the regulation of body temperature and the drainage of toxins out of the body. It helps boost the health of the immune system.
• You are advised to consume oils with essential fatty acids like Omega 6 Linoleic Acid. These essential oils are instrumental in the formation of substances called prostaglandins that stimulate the immune system of the body.
• You must limit the consumption of foods like meat, sugar, dairy products and canned foods.
These are a few recommendations for a diet to maintain and retain a healthy immune system. You should also include daily exercise to increase circulation and improve fitness levels.
Diet for Depression
Depression is an ailment that is highly pervasive in this fast moving and immensely competitive era. Depression is not just a feeling of sadness; rather it is a severe disorder which may be caused by several factors. These factors include:
• Biological factors like hormonal imbalances, genetic factors and imbalances in substances like neurotransmitters.
• Psychological and social factors which generally include personality and attitude related issues.
Depression is an abstract sensation and is generally seen from various angles including the Juvenile angle (depression in kids), Feminine angle (Depression in women), and Masculine angle (Depression in men).
As such, depression is not restricted to any age group or sex and is rampant among people of all groups. The symptoms of depression are loss of appetite and weight, lack of concentration, weakening of memory, changes in the normal sleep cycle, and loss of interest in day-to-day activities.
Anxiety and Depression Diet
A dietary regime for depression must include the following:
• You should consume a lot of fresh and green vegetables like celery, broccoli, spinach and cabbage to relieve depression.
• You must not consume processed and canned food on account of their low nutritive value and the presence of excessive amounts of certain substances like sugar and salt.
• You must also restrict the consumption of poultry foods in your diet.
• An intake of essential fatty acids like Omega-3 is highly recommended for anxiety prone patients and so foods like almond, walnut and flax seeds must be included in their diet.
• The consumption of foods rich in Vitamin C like blueberries, melon, strawberries and orange, and foods rich in Vitamin E like margarine, vegetable oil and wheat germ is recommended for depression prone patients.
• An intake of protein rich foods like cheese, lean beef, beans yogurt, and peas, and low fat cheese is recommended to treat depression.
• The consumption of fruits must be enhanced.
These are some of the alterations in diet to combat depression. You may also try these home remedies to cure depression:
• The consumption of a teaspoon of powdered dry asparagus every day is recommended to cure depression.
• An intake of powdered cardamom seeds in boiled water is also advised to relieve depression.
• Soak your feet in warm water with leaves of rosemary, chlorine, soap in order to alleviate depression.
• The consumption of an apple with honey and milk is another good remedy to assuage the symptoms of depression.
Diet for Constipation
What is constipation? Constipation is an ailment of the digestive system. It refers to the improper digestion of food, disabling the cleansing of the bowel by defecation. The undigested food remains in the stomach for a longer period, causing discomfort and stomach ailments. Constipation also makes your body prone to other ailments, thereby weakening the immunity mechanism of the body.
Causes and symptoms: The prime cause of constipation is irregular dietary patterns. The other causes of the affliction are stress, a lack of fiber in the diet, the excessive intake of calcium or iron supplements, the regular use of diuretics and a lack of fluids in the body. In addition to these causes, the intake of certain medications like painkillers with codeine or certain medicines for depression as well as a lack of physical exercise can also cause or aggravate this problem. The common symptoms of the ailment are dry and difficult bowel movements, nausea, stomachache, abdominal swelling and vomiting.
Food for Constipation
The diet recommended to cure and avert the recurrence of constipation is as follows:
• You must consume a lot of fruits, including fruits like guava and papaya which are particularly rich in their fiber content.
• You should also consume a lot of spinach in raw or cooked form to treat constipation.
• You are advised to consume orange juice at least once a day as oranges are instrumental in cleansing the digestive system. You may also consume other acidic or citrus fruits like grapefruit and lemon as these help in cleansing the bowels.
• You must also consume grapes as grapes have laxative properties, thereby curing constipation. You can consume grapes in dry or soaked form.
• Apples are instrumental in boasting your immune system and help in cleansing the bowels of germs. Hence, apples must be included in any diet to treat constipation.
• You must drink plenty of water so as to appropriately hydrate your body. Water eases the bowel movement thereby relieving constipation.
• Dry foods must be avoided.
• Cut down on your intake of rice. You may substitute rice with wheat in your daily diet as this is a fiber-rich substitute.
• You must include tomato and beet root in your diet, perhaps as a salad, as these foods are helpful in cleansing and rejuvenating the digestive system.
• You are also advised to consume at least a glass of sugarcane juice daily.
• Avoiding consuming processed or canned foods.
• Alcohol and tobacco are a strict no-no if you want to get rid of this problem.
These are some diet inclusions and exclusion which will help treat and prevent constipation.
