Ultimate Nutrition Guide for Dengue Patients: Boosting Recovery Naturally

Dengue has a long history, first detected in the 1980s. There is no specific treatment for dengue, and medicines are prescribed based on symptoms. Along with medicines, a proper diet plan for dengue patients is equally important for managing symptoms and moving in the right direction of their recovery journey. 

Dengue patient diet: nourishing recovery

Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus and transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Due to its debilitating nature, it affects millions of people worldwide. Common symptoms associated with dengue are high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, rash, and even a drop in platelet count. 

Nutrition plays a significant role in aiding recovery from dengue. Prompt medical attention means meeting a specialist to help you with a carefully planned diet. This results in better immunity, improved platelet count, and expedited healing. 

So, why wait? Here is a comprehensive guide to a nourishing diet plan for dengue patients. 

What is the importance of nutrition in dengue recovery?

When you are diagnosed with dengue, it is under stress, fighting the infection and repairing tissues. Here is when a nutrition-rich diet is needed: 

• Boosts immunity: Eating a nutrient-dense diet in dengue can help the body combat the virus. 
• Increases platelet count: dengue negatively affects your platelet count. Eating a good diet can help prevent complications like internal bleeding. 
• Replenish lost nutrients: when your body is diagnosed with fever, it tends to cause dehydration and loss of electrolytes. Hence, it is mandatory to keep yourself hydrated when suffering from dengue. Drink fluids such as water, coconut water, milk, juice, or drinks with added electrolytes. 
• Promote Healing: A balanced diet for dengue patients speeds up recovery and reduces weakness.

Also read: https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/lifestyle/15-effective-home-remedies-for-dengue/

What are the dietary guidelines for dengue patients?

Like any other disease, dengue is harmful to the body. Regretfully, most people show mild or no symptoms, and recovery usually occurs within 1-2 weeks. When you suffer from dengue, it lowers your energy levels severely. Hence, your healthcare provider suggests energy-dense foods to elevate your energy and keep you motivated. 

1. Hydration ideas: Hydration helps in replenishing fluids and prevents complications. Some of the best hydration ideas include: 

• Coconut water is naturally the best source of electrolytes and minerals. Additionally, it also helps combat dehydration. 
• Fruit juices: Diluted fruit juices like oranges and melons are also beneficial. They are loaded with vitamin C and thus aid in hydration. Nevertheless, lemon water also helps boost immunity and keep you hydrated. 
• Buttermilk helps in digestion. It can nourish your body and provide energy to combat the dengue virus. 
• Barley water: Drinking barley water during dengue can flush out toxins from the body and help maintain hydration levels. 
• Papaya leaf juice: Dengue is a deadly disease caused by the Aedes mosquitoes. Regretfully, it transmits the disease into your blood, causing high fever, skin rash, and decreased platelet count. Drinking papaya leaf juice in dengue with added jaggery or sugar is believed to increase platelet counts. However, adequate intake of this juice may cause gastrointestinal discomfort. 

Furthermore, herbal teas, soups, and oral rehydration solutions (ORS) are among the best options to keep your body hydrated. 

2. Fresh Fruits: Incorporating immune-boosting fruits into your diet during dengue fever can help combat the virus more effectively. 

• Pomegranate: Consuming pomegranate during dengue can be very beneficial for your health. The fruit is rich in iron, helps increase blood platelet count, and boosts immunity. 
• Oranges: Fruits such as oranges are loaded with vitamin C. This makes them beneficial for your body, boosting your immune system and providing essential nutrients for recovery. 
• Kiwi: The kiwi fruit is packed with vitamins C and E and contains iron, increasing platelet count.
• Papaya: Papaya leaf juice is an effective remedy for dengue patients. The fruit is loaded with nutrients that support immune function and recovery.
• Strawberries are also rich in vitamin C and contain antioxidants, and thus, support hydration while recovering from dengue. 

3. Vegetables: To avoid additional strain, it is essential to focus on easily digestible foods when recovering from dengue; vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, carrots, and beets can help you return to normal. 

• Broccoli is rich in vitamin K, which helps increase your blood platelet count. Additionally, this vegetable is an excellent source of iron and folate needed for red blood cell (RBC) production. 
• Spinach is rich in vitamin E, magnesium, and iron, making it a suitable vegetable for helping with dengue recovery. It is also low in calories and rich in antioxidants, so its consumption can help. 
• Carrots and beetroots: Both these vegetables contain antioxidants and nutrients. Hence, adding them to your dengue diet plan can help regenerate blood cells and improve platelet count. Additionally, carrots and beets are rich in beta-carotene and iron, promoting healing. 

Focus on Easily Digestible Foods: The patient’s digestive system may be compromised. To avoid additional strain, choose light, easily digestible foods.

• Include Immunity-Boosting Foods: Foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants help strengthen the immune system.
• Increase Iron and Folate Intake: These nutrients are vital for red blood cell production and improving platelet count.
• Avoid Spicy, Oily, and Processed Foods: These can irritate the stomach and hinder recovery.

4. Protein sources: Incorporating lean protein into a dengue diet plan can help. This is because protein helps repair tissue and boosts the immune system to combat infections. Some excellent sources of protein are:

• Lentils and legumes: They are excellent sources of protein. These foods can help in platelet production and maintain platelet levels. 
• Eggs are a great protein source and contain amino acids, making them a good option for dengue patients. 
• Chicken: If you eat non-vegetarian food, chicken can be a great option to recover fast from dengue. Lean meat, turkey, mutton, and chicken contain omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids and thus are considered. Drink chicken soups or vegetable soups in dengue. It is soft and easy to digest. 

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5. Whole Grains: A healthcare provider usually considers whole grains a dengue patient diet plan to promote immune function and overall health. Some excellent whole-grain foods for dengue patients include brown rice, oats, quinoa, and whole-wheat bread. 

• Brown rice provides sustained energy and essential nutrients to speed up recovery from dengue. Additionally, it is easy to digest, making it an excellent choice for dengue patients. 
• Oats do not put any pressure on the stomach as they are easily digestible foods, containing essential nutrients. 
• Quinoa genuinely helps in recovering from dengue. It contains essential nutrients and energy while being gentle on the digestive system. 
• Whole wheat bread is good for dengue patients. It helps people recover fast and supports overall health. 

6. Herbs and Spices: Herbs and spices, including turmeric, ginger, and Tulsi, also help people recover fast from dengue. Their benefits include: 

• Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory agent and contains curcumin, which helps in reducing inflammation.
• Ginger: Drink ginger tea to improve digestion. The anti-inflammatory properties in ginger may help ease symptoms such as nausea during dengue fever. 
• Tulsi (Holy Basil) is a natural herb that can help boost immunity and reduce fever. It relieves respiratory issues. Holy basil is also known to help respiratory conditions. 

Here is a sample dengue diet plan.

Morning	Breakfast	Mid-morning snack	Lunch	Evening	Dinner
A glass of warm water or tulsi tea.	Oats porridge with a handful of nuts and seeds.	Fresh orange or kiwi juice	Rice bowl or quinoa with steamed vegetables	Diluted orange juice	Vegetable soup with added ginger and turmeric.
Fruits such as papaya or pomegranate	Boiled egg or scrambled eggs	Whole grain toast	A serving of dal (lentils) or grilled chicken	A handful of roasted nuts or small fruit salad	Whole grain toast, scrambled eggs
Coconut water	Khichdi with chopped vegetables and buttermilk	A slice of watermelon	A bowl of curd or yogurt	3 rice crackers with 2 tablespoons of cottage cheese + 1 cup of chamomile tea	Steamed fish, brown rice, mixed greens.

Note: Before bed, a cup of warm milk with a pinch of turmeric. 

5 Foods to Avoid in Dengue Fever

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral illness that can make it challenging for individuals to manage their dietary needs during the dengue phase. Proper nutrition must strengthen the immune system, help recovery, and prevent complications. 

Nevertheless, some foods are strictly prohibited during dengue fever to ensure better digestion and hydration. Let’s explore them in detail. 

• Spicy and oily foods can irritate your stomach, causing discomfort such as pain, gas, or vomiting. Hence, they should be avoided during dengue. 
• Caffeinated and sugary drinks such as soda, coffee, tea, and energy drinks can cause dehydration. Hence, their use should be limited or restricted. 
• Alcohol: drinking should be done in moderation so as not to affect your health. However, when recovering from dengue, alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited to avoid dehydration. Additionally, it may interfere with the immune system and cause complications. 
• Processed foods like chips, packaged snacks, and others lack essential nutrients. Their consumption is not encouraged. 
• Raw or uncooked foods such as raw meats, seafood, and eggs can harm your health. Hence, avoid them completely. 

3 Additional Tips about Managing a Dengue Diet

Caregivers must remember managing a dengue diet is crucial. This helps the body recover fast and also eases symptoms. Here are some tips: 

• Maintaining hygiene is a must: Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly and cook food in a clean environment. 
• Monitor hydration: maintaining hydration is a must. Make sure you drink water and other fluids regularly. 
• Serve small, frequent meals: Smaller meals can help with digestion and prevent too much pressure on the stomach. 

When to Seek a Doctor?

Dengue is a serious condition. You can’t afford any mess and need extra care while recovering from it. Experiencing symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, difficulty breathing, or bleeding requires immediate medical attention. A diet for dengue patients alone cannot substitute medical treatment but complements it effectively. 

The Role of Supplements

Consult your doctor, as supplements, along with a balanced diet, might be necessary in some cases. These include vitamin C, zinc, and multivitamins to support recovery.

Conclusion

A dengue patient's diet plan should be well-planned to support the immune system, replenish lost nutrients, and restore energy levels. Hence, an expert’s guidance is essential to help with recovery. Hydrating fluids, immunity-boosting foods, and easy-to-digest foods can help speed up and smooth recovery. 

A note from Redcliffe Labs

Redcliffe Labs offers an extensive range of tests online, including specialized health screenings and urine blood tests with a home sample collection facility. 

Redcliffe Labs helps you make informed choices about your health and track your health effectively. Consequently, the expert doctors/dieticians deeply analyze your test reports generated under lab professionals' supervision and create personalized meal plans that suit your body’s specific dietary needs. This allows you to make adjustments as needed to achieve your health goals.

Frequently asked questions: 

1. What foods should a dengue patient diet plan include?

A dengue patient's diet plan should include easily digestible, nutrient-rich options, such as vitamin C-rich fruits, immunity-boosting vegetables, tender coconut water, and protein-rich foods. 

2. Is it ok to eat maggi in dengue?

No. You should avoid eating Maggi or noodles during dengue due to their low nutritional value. These processed foods are hard to digest. 

3. Can I eat rice in dengue?

Yes, patients recovering from dengue are suggested to eat rice, preferably boiled rice. Rice is easy to digest and also provides energy. 

4. Is it ok to drink milk in dengue?

Yes, drinking skim milk is highly suggested for dengue. However, if you find milk slightly heavier on your stomach, you can replace it with coconut water or buttermilk for easy digestion.