FOODS AND NUTRIENTS

Barrientos, RRL

It is said that people who are undernourished have a greater risk of developing TB, because
they are the one who have insufficient nutrients in their body and don’t have a balanced diet that leads
to weakness, shortness of breath, and weight loss. However, there are some foods that will help
tuberculosis patients, to meet those specific nutrients that their body needs and will be very beneficial
for them to fight for the disease. It is essential for TB patient to include calorie dense food that are
nutrient rich, because it can help to prevent weight loss, and also will help to meet up the rising
metabolic demands of the TB patient like banana, we all know that banana is high in potassium it helps
that TB patient to stay energized, another benefits from banana is, it can also help in reducing cough
and mucus production, inflammation and fever.
Vitamins also plays a big role in our body it helps our body to become healthy and boost our
immune system, foods rich in vitamin A, C, and E can absolutely help TB patient to recover from the
disease, foods and vegetables rich in vitamin A, C, and E including orange, it is high in vitamin C in fact
one orange offers 116.2 % of the daily value for vitamin C, it also strengthens the immune system of TB
patient, it contributes by keeping the proper function of a healthy immune system and prevents colds, it
also keeps the blood pressure under check, orange is also essential for people who have hypertension
by being rich in vitamin B6, and due to presence of magnesium it keeps the blood pressure under check,
another fruit is mango, mango is a great source of vitamin A and C, it also contain folate, B6, iron, and a
little calcium, zinc and vitamin E, it also good source of antioxidants that boost the immunes system for
it to function efficiently also to keep the body strong and healthy, that really helps TB patient to build up
vitamins and nutrients in their body, another source of vitamins and minerals is vegetables like carrots,
it is said that carrots is also a good source of vitamins and minerals because it is rich in beta carotene
which your body converts into vitamin A that also contributes to immune function, growth, and
development, and also contains vitamin B6 that is really important for TB patients because vitamin B6
helps in converting the food into energy. Tomatoes are also one of the good source of vitamins and
minerals, it is said that one medium-sized tomato can provide about 28% of the Reference Daily Intake
(RDI), it can also contributes in providing vitamin C, rich in antioxidants and nutrients, it also contain
folate which is one of the B vitamins vitamin B9, that helps in cell function and important for normal
tissue growth.
TB patients, are known in having lose appetite so it is important for them to take foods rich in
protein, so that it can contributes in giving the body the required energy like eggs, eggs is very nutritious
and they’re often referred eggs to as “nature’s multivitamin”, but how it is essential for TB patients? It’s
essential for TB patients, simply because eggs are a complete protein meaning all the essential amino
acids that needed for healthy body functions is all in egg, it also contains vitamins and minerals that help
TB patients to recover from the disease, it contains vitamin E an antioxidant that also help to protect our
bodies from the disease, iron to produce hemoglobin which carries oxygen, folate to maintain and help
for growth and maintenance of healthy cells, and yes eggs are excellent source of protein, with all the
essential amino acids in the right ratios. Lastly, another food that will help TB patients is eating food rich
in zinc like nuts which is a great source of zinc, healthy fats, fiber, and protein, nuts is also contain
antioxidants known as polyphenols that protects the cells from the damage caused by the free radicals.
TB is one of the top health issues, but there is a lot of food that contains vitamins and minerals which
help each TB patients to maintain healthy diets and recover from the disease, they should be
knowledgeable enough about these healthy foods in order for them, to sustain a healthy life.

NDTV (2019) 5 Best Foods For a Tuberculosis Patient

retrieved from: https://www.ndtv.com/food/5-best-foods-for-a-tuberculosis-patient-1793843
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take-care-of-tuberculosis-at-home-1827627

E times lifestyle (2019) 10 Health Benefits of Eating oranges

retrieved from : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/diet/why-you-should-eat-
oranges/articleshow/4662391.cms

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retrieved from : https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-
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Bjarnadottir, A. (2019) Carrots 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits

retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/carrots#vitamins-and-minerals

Bjarnadottir, A. (2019) Tomatoes 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits

retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/tomatoes#vitamins-and-minerals

New Zealand Nutrition Foundation (2020) Eggs- What do they contain?

Retrieved from: https://nutritionfoundation.org.nz/nutrition-facts/nutrition-a-z/eggs-what-do-eggs-
contain-
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