Dengue and its diet

Letter October 09, 2019
Pakistan has been experiencing dengue for many years but are we actually looking at ways to get rid of it?

KARACHI: Pakistan has been experiencing dengue for the past many years but are we actually looking at ways through which we can get rid of it? Unfortunately the answer is no. We really need to focus on coming up with methods that enable us to fight this menace. Nowadays dengue is on a roll. You will see posters, banners, public service messages all around guiding you on how to avoid being infected or how to act when you get infected. Very few will guide you towards taking a proper diet. Diet can play an important role in recovery and can also prove to be helpful in maintaining blood platelets count. There are plenty of foods which can quicken the healing process and can be a good source of energy.

Recently I watched a public service message issued by the Punjab Food Authority which, in my opinion, everyone should pay attention to. As per experts, dengue patients need to consume vegetables, fruits and fruit juices, especially apple, oranges, lemon, etc. Such vegetables and fruits can help in the building of blood platelets which is extremely important if the body has to fight against the dengue virus. Foods to avoid are oily food because it can lead to high blood pressure, spicy food as it causes acidity in stomach and non-vegetarian food. Along with maintaining blood platelets count, normal blood pressure is also compulsory. Besides medication, these healing foods are effective in the treatment of dengue

Hamid Zaib

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2019.

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