Notes on diet for people with tonsillitis

PT Health Life – People with tonsillitis should pay attention to foods and drinks that are easier to eat when they have a sore throat or difficulty swallowing…

Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils, an almond-shaped organization located at the back of the throat. Tonsillitis can cause symptoms such as sore throat, swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing, and swollen neck lymph nodes.

tonsils have the function of producing antibodies to participate in the immune system to protect the body, and are highly active. in children and will gradually decrease in adulthood. However, when the inflammation is repeated many times and not treated thoroughly, the tonsils become a source of infection that causes disease in the body and can easily lead to complications, making the patient uncomfortable.

1. The importance of diet when suffering from tonsillitis

because most cases of tonsillitis in adults are caused by viruses, the treatment method is rest and self-care at home. Commonly recommended self-care methods include:

• Rest as much as possible;
• Drink plenty of liquids. It is also good to drink herbal tea with lemon and honey;
• Gargle with salt water;
• Regular pain relievers and fever reducers can be used to reduce pain and discomfort;
• Eat soft foods;
• Using lozenges helps disinfect and relieve sore throat.

Diet plays an important role in supporting recovery and reducing symptoms of tonsillitis. A healthy diet can help people with tonsillitis:

• Sore throat relief: Soft foods such as soup, porridge, and yogurt help soothe a sore throat and make it easier to swallow.
• Anti-inflammatory: Foods rich in anti-inflammatory properties such as fruits, spinach, honey, turmeric and ginger can help reduce inflammation and swelling.
• Strengthens the immune system : Foods rich in vitamin C and zinc such as oranges, kiwis and lean meat help strengthen the immune system and fight infections. Along with that, treatment time is also shortened and complications arise less.
• Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water, fruit juices and herbal teas helps keep the body hydrated and prevents dehydration.

2. Necessary nutrients for people with tonsillitis

2.1. Protein is good for people with tonsillitis

Protein is considered one of the essential nutrients for the body. Protein is responsible for supporting muscle improvement, enhancing health and providing the body with abundant energy.

According to studies, people with bacterial and viral infections need to have a moderate diet and pay attention to supplementing the necessary amount of protein for the body to promote good health and be able to withstand pathogens. harmful.

During the treatment of tonsillitis, patients should prioritize the use of foods that are rich in protein but are easy to digest such as chicken, eggs, milk, fish… and limit the use of dishes such as grilled meat and meat. smoked, canned foods.

2.2. Vitamin C increases resistance

Vitamin C is an essential ingredient, providing many benefits to the immune system and overall health. In particular, this vitamin also supports effective treatment of tonsillitis thanks to its ability to enhance the function of lymphocytes, contributing to improving the respiratory system.

Vitamin C contributes to the production of interferon antibody proteins that help prevent the entry of foreign elements into the body. Specifically, just supplementing about 1000mg of vitamin C per day will help reduce about 50% of symptoms of nasopharyngitis and other respiratory diseases.

Foods rich in vitamin C include kiwi, strawberries, lemons, oranges, grapefruit, guava… You can eat them directly or use them in the form of juice or smoothies.

2.3. Vitamin E

Foods rich in vitamin E are also good choices for people with respiratory infections in general and tonsillitis in particular. The reason is that vitamin E helps restore damaged tissues, reduce inflammation, and help improve symptoms of sore throat and swelling caused by tonsillitis.

Vitamin E is found in foods such as pistachios, avocados, broccoli, spinach, cauliflower, papaya, spinach…

2.4. Zinc effectively reduces inflammation

Zinc is a good ingredient for health in general and the immune system in particular. Research shows that regularly consuming foods rich in zinc can help the body improve its immune function by promoting the production of lymphocytes. From here, the body will appear antibodies to help inhibit respiratory infections such as flu, colds, sore throat and especially tonsillitis.

To supplement enough zinc, you should increase your intake of foods such as pumpkin seeds, oysters, beef, cashews, walnuts, seaweed, buckwheat seeds, animal liver,…

2.5. Anti-inflammatory food group

Viruses and bacteria that cause tonsillitis can spread to nearby organs such as the nasopharynx, larynx, adenoids, and sinus tissue. Therefore, supplementing the body with foods that have anti-inflammatory properties plays an extremely important role. This not only helps prevent the risk of bacterial infection to other parts but also shortens the time of drug use, ensuring optimal treatment effectiveness.

• Turmeric: is a medicinal herb with a spicy taste, warm properties, and especially high anti-inflammatory properties that help disinfect and inhibit bacteria. To soothe a sore throat due to tonsillitis, patients should try combining drinking turmeric powder or using turmeric in preparing daily dishes.
• Honey: Honey has antibacterial properties and a warm sweet taste, is easy to use and has high anti-inflammatory effects. People with tonsillitis should suck on pure honey or combine honey with many other ingredients such as lemon, kumquat, pear, perilla, to enhance treatment effectiveness.
• Ginger: Combined with tonsillitis treatment methods, patients should use ginger tea, ginger honey or combine fresh ginger in daily dishes.

3. Notes on nutrition for patients with tonsillitis

3.1. Foods people with tonsillitis should eat

Sore and swollen throat caused by tonsillitis can make swallowing difficult. So what foods and drinks are recommended for people with tonsillitis?

Soft foods are the best choice. They are easy to swallow and safe to eat, and reduce inflammation and irritation in the throat. Warm drinks also prevent or relieve pain in the tonsils.

Here are some foods to eat when you have tonsillitis:

• Soup: Chicken soup or vegetable soup is a good choice because of its soft texture, easy to swallow, easy to digest and rich in nutrients.
• Porridge: White porridge or oatmeal porridge are good choices for people with tonsillitis because they are easy to digest and provide energy.
• Plain yogurt: Yogurt is a good source of protein and calcium, and contains beneficial bacteria that help support the digestive system.
• Soft fruits: Soft fruits such as bananas, avocados, and watermelon are easy to swallow and contain many essential vitamins and minerals.
• Tender Vegetables: Soft cooked vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli and carrots provide vitamins, minerals and fiber.
• Eggs: Eggs are a good source of protein and are easily digestible.
• Lean meat: Lean turkey, chicken or fish provide protein and zinc, which help strengthen the immune system.
• White bread: White bread is soft and easy to swallow.

Soft drinks that are good for tonsillitis include:

• Warm liquids such as herbal teas, soups, and warm water.
• Soft fruit smoothies like bananas and avocados.
• Gelatin dessert.
• Water use.
• Soup made from cream.

Consuming these foods and drinks will keep you full and hydrated without making your tonsillitis worse.

3.2. Foods that people with tonsillitis need to avoid

Tonsillitis can cause a sore throat and difficulty swallowing, so you should avoid certain foods and drinks that can aggravate these symptoms.Patients should avoid the following foods when having tonsillitis:

• Hot and spicy foods: Hot and spicy foods such as chili powder, pepper, and hot sauces easily irritate the throat and make mouth and throat symptoms worse.
• Hard and crunchy foods: Hard foods like chips, cereal, crackers, and nuts cause discomfort when swallowing or irritate inflamed tonsils and cause more swelling.
• Sour foods: Sour foods like citrus and tomatoes increase stomach acid and make a sore throat worse.
• Foods containing a lot of fat: Regularly consuming fried foods with too much fat will cause indigestion and stomach acid reflux. If this condition persists, it will not be good for the tonsils and can easily cause respiratory infections.

Some drinks can irritate a sore and swollen throat. Consider avoiding these drinks if you have tonsillitis:

• Carbonated drinks: Carbonated drinks often cause bloating and discomfort.
• Caffeine: Caffeine can easily cause dehydration and make symptoms worse.
• Alcohol: Alcohol irritates the throat and makes symptoms more uncomfortable. Alcohol is a diuretic, increasing the number of times you urinate, causing your body to lose water. Having less fluid in the body causes the throat to become dry and itchy, causing discomfort in tonsillitis.

People with tonsillitis should follow a healthy diet and drink plenty of water. In addition, you need to get plenty of rest and avoid contact with sick people. If you smoke, quit because smoking can make your throat red, dry, and uncomfortable. From there, tonsillitis will be difficult to control and can easily become more serious.