Table of contents:
- What to eat
- What not to eat
- Pneumonia Diet Menu
- How to dribble a lack of appetite
- Optimal amount of fluid during pneumonia
To treat and cure pneumonia, it is important to increase the consumption of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory foods, such as tuna, sardines, chestnuts, avocados, vegetables and fruits, such as oranges and lemons, for example, because this way it is possible to strengthen the immune system and speed up the recovery process.
In addition, it is also important to reduce the consumption of foods rich in sugar, fat, fried foods, s alt and caffeine, as they can hinder recovery and worsen the general state of he alth.
What to eat
Pneumonia is an infection that can be caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi, and which results in an increase in the body's energy expenditure to fight the infection.Therefore, it is important to consume foods capable of providing enough calories and strengthening the immune system to help the body fight the disease, along with the medication prescribed by the doctor.
In addition, to recover faster from pneumonia, you should eat fruits and vegetables at every meal of the day, as they are foods rich in water, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which help keep the body hydrated and to strengthen the immune system. Thus, you can make snacks with juices, chopped fruits and vitamins, for example, in addition to soups or vegetable creams for lunch or dinner. Some examples of good choices are oranges, pineapples, strawberries, broccoli, spinach and tomatoes.
Also, increase your intake of anti-inflammatory and omega-3-rich foods such as salmon, sardines, avocado, chestnuts and flaxseed. help reduce inflammation caused by the disease, bringing relief from muscle pain and fever.
Check out some home remedies to fight pneumonia.
What not to eat
In addition to being aware of what to eat to speed recovery from pneumonia, it is also important to remember to avoid consuming foods that increase inflammation and worsen the disease, such as fried foods, sweets, high-fat foods and processed meats like bacon, sausage, ham and sausage.
It is also important to avoid the consumption of processed foods and seasonings, such as instant noodles, frozen ready-to-eat foods, stuffed cookies and cubed meat broths, in addition to foods rich in s alt and caffeine, such as Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, coffee, green tea, black tea and soft drinks.
Pneumonia Diet Menu
The following table shows an example of a 3-day menu that helps to cure pneumonia faster.
| Meal | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |
| Breakfast | 1 glass of orange juice + 1 slice of wholegrain bread + 1 egg | Banana vitamin with 1 spoon of oatmeal + 1 spoon of peanut butter | 1 glass of pineapple juice + 1 tapioca with cheese |
| Morning Snack | 1 cup of strawberries with 1 tablespoon of oatmeal | 1 apple + 10 cashews | 1 cup of plain yogurt + 1 tablespoon of honey + 1 teaspoon of flaxseed |
| Lunch/Dinner | 2 small boiled potatoes + 1/2 salmon fillet or 1 can of sardines + braised cabbage salad | Boiled rice with chicken and vegetables | Vegetable soup with chicken or fish |
| Afternoon Snack | 1 cup of plain yogurt + 3 tbsp of granola soup | 1 glass of orange juice + 1 slice of whole wheat bread with cheese | Avocado Vitamin |
Between meals, you should always remember to drink plenty of water, juices or weak teas, preferably without sugar, to increase your fluid intake. Even without appetite, it is important to try to eat at every meal, even if consumption is done in small amounts.
How to dribble a lack of appetite
During pneumonia, it is common to have a lack of appetite and reduced food intake, which can worsen the condition of the disease and delay recovery. Thus, some strategies to increase the consumption of nutrients and calories in the diet are:
- Eat at least 5 meals a day, even small ones, so that every 3-4 hours the body receives new nutrients;
- Take fruit smoothies with high-calorie, nutritious foods such as oatmeal, peanut butter, cocoa, and brewer's yeast;
- Add a spoon of olive oil to soup or lunch or dinner food;
- Make porridge and vegetable cream very concentrated, so that more calories are ingested, even when consuming small amounts of these preparations.
In some cases, the doctor may also prescribe the use of multivitamins in capsules for adults or in drops for children, to compensate a little for the low food intake and to stimulate the appetite.
Optimal amount of fluid during pneumonia
During recovery from pneumonia, you should increase your fluid intake to at least 6 to 10 glasses a day, using water, fruit juices or vegetable broths to increase hydration.
This will help to control the water loss that occurs during times of fever and with increased nasal secretion, in addition to relieving cough and increasing mood. Find out how the Treatment of Pneumonia in Babies and Children is done.
