Tuberculosis is a serious, infectious disease mainly affecting your lungs caused by bacteria but what if the real battle is not only against the germs but also against what we are eating? In India, dairy is part of the daily custom, so few question its impact on respiratory health. However, have we ever stopped to wonder if avoiding dairy supports the recovery journey for TB patients? Ms Nidhi Nahata, lifestyle coach and founder at plant-based vegetarian restaurant Justbe, tells more.
Can Avoiding Dairy Help TB Patients?
According to Ms Nidhi Nahata, in centuries-old Ayurvedic texts, Kapha stands for body mucus and congestion. Some people seem to produce more mucus when they eat a lot of dairy, and many studies and anecdotal clinical evidence support this. Someone with a respiratory illness like tuberculosis, which already impairs the lungs, could experience a silent reverse.
For them, dairy-induced mucus exacerbates the inflammation. Recovery and vitality suffer as breathing becomes more difficult and forceful in a congested respiratory system.
A tuberculosis patient needs more oxygen, less inflammation, cleaner airways, and stronger immunity. A dairy-free diet can be transformative not only for the lungs but also for general energy and recovery.
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Ms Nidhi Nahata states that the body sometimes feels lighter when we cut out dairy. The digestive function increases and breathing is easier. People with asthma, chronic bronchitis, and even those in the post-TB recovery stage feel better on dairy-free diets and plant-based food regimes. Plant-based protein sources, citrus fruits, and leafy greens support the immune system without burdening the lungs.
4 Steps You Can Take To Move To Plant-Based Diet
Patients with tuberculosis who have very low body weight or severe malnutrition should make sure they are replacing dairy with rich nutrient alternatives. To avoid calcium or protein loss, a good practitioner or nutritionist should always be present to guide a transition. The following 4 steps should help:
Read Your Body
Experiment with cutting dairy for ten days and see how your breathing, digestion, and energy improve.
Calcium Sources
Consider ragi, amaranth, tofu, sesame seeds, and greens including spinach and moringa.
Plant Milks
Homemade almond or coconut milk can be hydrating and free of mucus.
Support Gut Health
Fermented plant-based foods such sauerkraut or vegan kefir also help with immunity.
"Although avoiding dairy may not be a cure for tuberculosis, it can help with respiration recovery. As studies keep discovering food's effects on health, it's important we remain open, aware, and deliberate. Every breath is vital for people with tuberculosis. Occasionally too, what we take from the plate can be as therapeutic as what we add," wraps up Ms Nidhi Nahata.
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