Lybrate Logo
Get the App
For Doctors
Login/Sign-up
Last Updated: Apr 05, 2024
BookMark
Report

Special Diet Plan for Thalassemia Major Patients

Profile Image
Dt. Neha SuryawanshiDietitian/Nutritionist • 19 Years Exp.M.Sc. in Dietetics and Food Service Management , Post Graduate Diploma In Computer Application, P.G.Diploma in Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics , B.Sc.Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics
Topic Image

Thalassemia patients should not be given iron-rich foods as they may lead to other problems. Oysters, pork, beans, liver, peanut butter, beef, tofu, flour tortillas, cream of wheat, infant cereal, watermelon, prunes, peas, spinach, raisins, broccoli, and green leafy vegetables all fall under this category.

A nutrient extremely important for thalassemia patients is calcium. Due to the affliction, bones tend to become weak and fragile, and as such, calcium-rich foods are highly recommended to strengthen the skeletal system of the body.

Special Diet for Thalassemia Patients

Add food items in your diet which high in iron content are dairy products, almonds, hazelnuts, sesame seeds, sardines, salmon, apricots, figs, oranges, currants, soybeans, white bread, white rice, kale cabbages, cauliflower.

Other food items also included in the special Thalassemia diet are beet, carrots, celery, alfalfa sprouts, turnips, cucumbers, garlic, lettuce, tomatoes, green chilies, potatoes, apples, cranberries, pomegranates, strawberries, pineapples, lemons, and acai berries, among others. 

  1. Patients suffering from Thalassemia must include vitamin d in the diet of thalassemia patients as vitamin d helps in the absorption and assimilation of calcium in the body. Some such foods are cod liver oil and soy milk.
  2. Along with the specific diet, there are certain home remedies that may abate the symptoms of thalassemia.
  3. The best home remedy to cure thalassemia is to consume a healthy and balanced diet to enhance the immunity of the body. Also, it helps prevent and cure weakness and fatigue, the prime symptoms of thalassemia.
  4. Intake of foods rich in folic acid also helps alleviate the signs of thalassemia. Some such foods are lentils, egg yolk, dried beans, sweet potato, wholegrain bread, soya products, split peas, nuts, Brussel sprouts, bananas, and peaches, among others.
  5. Milk: Two glasses of milk everyday help cure thalassemia issue. Apart from milk, other dairy products that may be consumed on a regular basis are cheese, yogurt, and butter.
  6. Avoid Junk Food:  If a patient following diet plan for the thalassemia problem then must avoid junk food as these foods interfere with the normal functionality of the body, making it fragile and weak. You must avoid carbonated or aerated drinks as well as canned or tinned foods (attributed to their high content of preservatives).
  7. Add Honey in Diet: Another effective remedy is to consume a teaspoon of honey, twice a day. You may mix honey in milk and consume it regularly.
  8. Do Yoga: Certain yoga poses make your muscles and bones stronger. However, there is a disclaimer here. Such exercises should not be performed until advised by a doctor and must be carried out under the supervision of a certified yoga trainer.
  9. Use Ginger: Another effective remedy to relieve the symptoms of thalassemia is to consume ginger. Ginger serves to enhance the immunity of the body as well as enhance the appetite.
  10. You may include lemonade in your diet to regulate a variety of processes and mechanisms in the body, helping alleviate the signs of thalassemia.
  11. Personal Hygiene: Minor habits like maintaining good hygiene can go a long way in protecting a thalassemia patient from other infections which would worsen the condition.
  12. Apart from the regular home remedies, you may deploy herbal treatment to cure thalassemia. Some of the herbs used for curing thalassemia are:
  13. Folic acid: Folate or folic acid is a component of vitamin b-complex and helps alleviate the symptoms of thalassemia. As such, you may consume certain herbs which supplement folate in the diet. Some such herbs are red clover leaves, nettle leaves, and oat straw, among others.
  14. Zinc Supplement for Thalassemia Patients: You may also provide thalassemia patients with zinc supplements as some of them have low zinc levels in the body, hindering normal cell metabolism and lowering general body immunity. Some of the herbs rich in zinc content are alfalfa, rose hips, parsley, dandelion, chickweed, and burdock root, among others.
  15. You may also employ homeopathic techniques to cure the affliction, which involves the intake of highly diluted preparation made of plant tinctures, stimulating the natural healing process.

Update From Lybrate: Multivitamins supplements offer unexpected health benefits from guarding against diseases, boosting energy to treating nutritional deficiencies. Buy these Multivitamins products at an affordable price at Lybrate.

chat_icon

Ask a free question

Get FREE multiple opinions from Doctors

posted anonymously
doctor

Book appointment with top doctors for Vitamin D Deficiency treatment

View fees, clinc timings and reviews
doctor

Treatment Enquiry

Get treatment cost, find best hospital/clinics and know other details