Illness, injury, and hospitalization can affect your appetite and nutritional needs. If you are recovering from an illness or injury, it’s important to follow a balanced diet to get the nutrients your body needs.
It’s important to eat nutritious food as soon as possible after illness so that your body is able to fight off infection better in the future. The best foods for recovery vary depending on the type of illness you have and how long it lasts. But there are some general guidelines to keep in mind:
- Choose nutrient-dense foods. These are packed with vitamins and minerals which promote healing and help your immune system fight infection. Try fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products.
- Limit processed foods. Opt for fresh foods over processed options like canned soups, frozen pizzas, cookies and cakes. Processed foods tend to be high in fat, sugar and sodium — all of which can negatively impact your health.
- Drinking plenty of fluids is also important. If you don’t drink enough water while you are ill, your body can become dehydrated. Dehydration can slow your recovery and make you feel worse than you already do.
- Get enough protein. Protein is important for building muscle mass, healing tissues and fighting infection. If you have a poor appetite or aren’t eating much because of nausea or diarrhea, try eating small amounts of protein throughout the day rather than one big meal at dinner time. Good choices include eggs, fish, poultry, beans, tofu and Greek yogurt.
- Limit alcohol intake as much as possible. Alcohol dehydrates the body, making it harder to fight illness. If you do drink alcohol, keep it to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.
