Dengue fever diet: Here is what you should eat

The dengue scare is something that we all face during the monsoons! In case we do not take care of our bodies, this disease can prove to be life-threatening. Diet plays a crucial role in the treatment of the fever. Dr Tanuja Khurana, nutritionist and dietician at Prime Health Pvt. Ltd. in Hyderabad, says, “Our body needs time, energy and the right kind of food to recover.” Understanding dengue’s impact on the body is key to crafting a diet that aids recovery.

Essentials of dengue diet

1. Fruit juice

Dr Khurana mentions that it is vital to stay hydrated. “Plenty of fluids like water and isotonic fluids should be taken as part of the dengue diet. One should take fruit juices consistently as it helps to increase the platelet count and fibrinogen levels in the body.” She also clarifies that as the fibrinogen levels increase, our platelets automatically increase.

2. Fish, chicken and paneer

Our body needs proteins to strengthen itself and recover. She advises chicken, fish and eggs as sources of protein for non-vegetarians who are recovering from dengue. She adds, “Tofu, paneer and beans are good options for vegetarians. However, one should opt for white beans and not red ones. It is to be noted that the body requires lean proteins.”

3. Green vegetables

Vegetables like spinach, capsicum, beans and asparagus should be eaten as they contain folate, which promotes healthy cell growth and division. She mentions that these are very important in the battle against the low platelet count seen in dengue. 

She goes on to recommend that the dengue diet should include foods rich in vitamin K like sprouts and broccoli. This is important to support blood clotting and prevent bleeding, which is very important in dengue.

4. Papaya, apple and orange

Dr Khurana recommends having papaya, orange, pear and apples, as these fruits are rich in antioxidants and help the body to recover faster. Papaya increases the fibrinogen levels and thus helps to treat dengue.

Dr Khurana also pointed out that foods with high-fat content like butter, and bakery items should be avoided. She adds, “Avoid consuming spicy food and caffeinated drinks because these act as a diuretic, whereas while battling dengue, we need a lot of water. Thus, these foods contradict the entire process.”

Aastha Khungar, head clinical nutritionist at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mohali, has the following recommendations for breakfast, lunch and dinner as part of the dengue diet:

• For breakfast, she suggests, “Dalia or oats can be taken in the morning. You should have lemonade to keep yourself hydrated.” However, bread should not be consumed, she adds.
• During lunchtime, her recommendations are soup with paneer or khichdi with millet.
• “Dal and rice can be taken for dinner. Further, one should have custard as our body needs the calories,” she adds.

Dr Pramod V Satya, consultant, internal medicine, Manipal Hospital Millers Road, Bengaluru, points out that between days 3 and 5 of the infection, our liver works hard to fight the infection. As a result, it swells up, reducing the appetite and causing nausea. He also cautions against having deep-fried snacks or food with high-fat content because the liver will be unnecessarily exerted to digest the same. 

He emphasizes that dengue is a self-limiting disease and that people suffering from it should be on a low-fat diet and take a lot of fluids.