Diet Tips for Swine Flu

Submitted by Stella Morgan on November 5, 2009

Also called swine influenza, swine flu is caused by an infection of the various strains of the swine influenza virus. A Swine Influenza Virus (SIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses which are endemic in pigs, that is, the viruses live in parasitic relation in the body of pigs, which serve as a host for the viruses. The symptoms of this ailment are fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, headache, chills, fatigue and rhinorrhea. The diet recommended for swine flu is as follows: The patients must not consume pork or other animal fat as animals may act as host of swine flu viruses. Once the fever subsides, the patient is recommended to go on an all fruit diet. The afflicted individual must take three meals a day of fresh fruits. The fruits that may be included in the diet of the patient are apples, pineapples, oranges, grapes, pears, and melon. You must avoid the consumption of banana. You must not consume tinned fruits and any form of processed foods. The patient must include a lot of vegetables in his or her diet so as to supplement the necessary vitamins and minerals that were lost on account of the illness.

The vegetables that must be included in the diet of patients are cabbage, broccoli, spinach, green peas and Swiss chard, and lettuce. The patient must be given lemon juice at least twice a day. Lemon juice is instrumental in cleansing the body and it also boosts the weakened digestive system of the afflicted individual. The patient must not consume condiments and pickles as these foods enhance the appetite of the patient thereby leading to overeating. The patient must not be given tea and coffee. Green tea can be a good substitute for these drinks.

Also, green tea has antioxidants which cleanses the body of the patient. The patient must not consume highly seasoned meat. Also, the content of fatty meat products must be restricted in the diet of individuals afflicted with swine flu. The diet of swine flu patients must also include seeds like flax seeds, pomegranate seeds, and pumpkin seeds. The patients are recommended to eat nuts, as nuts are high in protein content. As such, the diet of afflicted persons must include walnut, almonds, and cashew. Swine flu patients must not eat foods with excessive starch content.

As such, they must not consume foods like potato. It must be ensured the foods given to swine flu patients are fresh. The consumption of stale and rotten food may lead to a recurrence of the symptoms of swine flu.