Diet For Chicken Pox: Foods to Eat and Avoid

Did you know that eating the right foods can help you recover from chicken pox more quickly? When you are dealing with this itchy & uncomfortable condition, it is your food that can determine how fast you can heal. Let us understand the foods that can help you best when you are recovering from an infection.

Foods to Eat When You Have Chicken Pox

When you are dealing with chicken pox, it's essential to focus on foods that help with healing and give your immune system a boost. Eating a balanced diet or choosing good food for chicken pox can have an impact on the ability of your body to fight the virus and speed up your recovery. Here are some examples of foods to eat during chicken pox:

• Organic fruits and veggies play a key role in a chicken pox diet. Citrus fruits have lots of Vitamin C to give a solid boost to your immune system. Oranges, lemons and grapefruits are great options. Nutrient-packed fruits like papaya, mangoes and guava give you folate, potassium, and vitamins A, C, and K.
• Leafy greens and veggies such as spinach, carrots, bell peppers, and broccoli provide crucial vitamins and minerals, including iron and calcium, which help the body to heal.
• Protein has an impact on repairing & rebuilding tissues affected by the virus. Eating enough protein rich foods can help you get better faster & lower your risk of problems related to infection. Boiled chicken, poached fish and tofu are easy for your body to digest. If you are a vegetarian or vegan go for plant-based options such as lentils and beans for your protein requirement.
• Dairy products play a role in healing skin lesions because of their calcium content. Milk, paneer, and buttermilk support cell growth and renewal which helps reduce scarring and speeds up recovery. Yoghurt, kefir, and cottage cheese have lots of calcium and provide probiotics to support gut health.
• Healthy fats play a key part in boosting the immune system and lowering inflammation. To get these important nutrients eat almonds, walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds and olive oil.
• Keeping yourself hydrated is essential when you have chicken pox. This illness can lead to high fever and sweating, which may cause dehydration. Make sure to drink lots of water, herbal teas, fruit-infused water, and fresh fruit juices without added sugar. Coconut water offers a great natural source of electrolytes.

Adding these food items to your meals can help ease symptoms, boost your immune system and speed up healing when you have chicken pox. If you have any health issues or can't eat certain foods, it is always advisable to check with your doctor or a dietician.

What Foods to Avoid During Chicken Pox

There is no exact diet for chicken pox, but certain foods can make symptoms worse and delay healing. To recover faster and avoid complications, you should avoid eating these foods.

• Spicy and oily foods lead the pack of things you shouldn't eat. They can make itching worse and irritate your skin. Spicy foods have capsaicin which can increase skin irritation and make itching more intense. It is a smart move to skip deep-fried food and snacks like samosas, pakoras, greasy curries and dishes with lots of spices.
• You should also stay away from acidic, salty, or crunchy foods if you have sores on your lips, in your mouth, or on your tongue. These foods can hurt oral sores even more causing pain and slowing down how fast they heal.
• Too much sugar also affect your immune system making it harder to heal and easier to get sick. Doctors tell you to stay away from sugary drinks like soda and packaged fruit juice. In the same way, desserts can put extra strain on your immune system & slow down your recovery. Some of these foods include but are not limited to:
  • Cakes
  • Cookies
  • Ice cream
  • Chocolate
• Those with chickenpox should stay away from foods that might cause allergies. These foods can set off allergic reactions & make chickenpox symptoms look bad. Some of these foods are:
  • Peanuts
  • Shellfish
  • Eggs

Conclusion

The diet for chicken pox has an influence on recovery and symptom management. To boost the immune system & promote skin healing patients should eat nutrient rich foods to help their body fight the virus. It's just as important to avoid foods that could make symptoms worse or slow down healing. To speed up recovery and reduce complications, it is crucial to stay well hydrated and eat a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, soft proteins and healthy fats.

Dt. Sushma

Dietician and Nutrition