Nourishing the body: Key nutrients to support TB recovery

TB tends to damage the tissues, leading to muscle loss due to increased metabolic demands, making protein a key nutrient for enhancing the recovery process. Protein also helps strengthen the immune system to fight the infection.

- AMAN PURI

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium mycobacterium tuberculosis, which spreads through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. It primarily impacts the lungs, causing symptoms such as prolonged fever, cough with excess mucus, low immunity, loss of appetite, muscle wasting, and fatigue. One of the biggest challenges during treatment is preventing malnutrition, which often results from a poor appetite and the body's increased energy requirements due to a higher basal metabolic rate during infection.

Since TB involves treatment with antibiotics, it is important to take a high-calorie, high-protein diet with adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. To help the body heal and regain strength, it's essential to focus on key nutrients that support recovery. Here's what patients should prioritize in their diet during TB treatment.

FOCUS ON HEALTHY CARBOHYDRATES