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Effective Measles Healing Diet

Submitted by Loring A. Windblad on June 9, 2011

Measles Natural Cures And Effective Home Remedies

Measles is a highly contagious disease, which can affect men, women and children of all ages, but is a lot more common in children. Studies indicate that children who are between the ages of 3 months and 6 years are extremely vulnerable to this disease, as compared to older kids, teenagers or adults.This condition is caused by a virus and it appears in the form of an epidemic, especially during the winter season. Measles can be of two kinds, depending on the virus that caused it. The rubella virus causes German measles and the rubeola virus causes what is called red or hard measles. Both types of measles manifest as red rashes that typically cover various parts of the body.


Measles is usually characterized by the presence of a red rash, which could be accompanied by sneezing, coughing, fever and loss in appetite. On its own, measles is not really a serious health condition, but it can lead to a lot of discomfort. If this condition is not dealt with in the right manner, it could lead to serious complications, such as bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia or infection of the middle ear.


Health care providers usually advise patients to follow a specific measles diet treatment. Since there are no medicines that are prescribed to alleviate the symptoms and discomfort caused by measles, most patients seek relief through simple home remedies. Of course a diet for measles also plays a very important role in the recovery process.


For healing measles and reducing its uncomfortable symptoms, all patients should receive the adequate amount of nutrition. However, since most measles patients find it difficult to eat normal food, this could be a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, people can eat the right food for measles, which are light, mild, yet packed with nutrients.


In addition, patients also suffer from a fever once they have been infected. These symptoms generally disappear in a week’s time after the virus has run its course. The condition is very contagious and can spread easily through a population. The virus is generally transmitted by coughing or sneezing. Anyone can thus become infected with measles by inhaling air that has been contaminated by a patient’s cough or sneeze. The measles virus can be effectively prevented with the help of inoculation.

The measles vaccine immunizes an individual against the measles virus. If you have never had a measles vaccine and have never suffered from it, then you are prone to being infected. While caring for a person infected with measles, you should thus take necessary precautions and isolate him/her to keep the disease from spreading. In addition, patients suffering from measles tend to be sensitive to the light and should thus be kept in a darkened room.

One of the important aspects of treating measles at home is a healthy diet. For a person suffering from measles, an all fruit diet is strongly recommended for the first three days. This fruit diet should be followed up with a bland and soft diet. Such a diet is easy on the stomach while recuperating from measles. The patient’s diet should include plenty of water and other fluids to help prevent dehydration. Dehydration is a very common measles symptom and can be prevented easily by increasing the patient’s consumption of fresh fruit juices (especially juice of citrus fruits) and water. 

In addition, persons suffering from measles should eat foods that are rich in vitamin A. These foods include citrus fruits like oranges, grapes, and cantaloupes. Citrus fruits also help enhance appetite and are thus very effective in the treatment of measles symptoms. Increase the patient’s consumption of parsley. Parsley is very effective in treating measles symptoms. Like parsley, raw turmeric root is also very effective in the treatment of measles. Include generous amounts of raw turmeric root in the patient’s diet to help alleviate his/her symptoms.

What Is The Ideal Diet For Measles Patient?

For the first three days after the symptoms for measles become evident, the patient needs to take a lot of care. This includes following a healthy diet during measles. For the first three days after the infection, health experts suggest a diet that comprises of mostly fruits for measles patients. Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, lemons and cantaloupes are believed to be the most beneficial. Moreover, since these fruits are light, yet flavorful, they are ideal for children. In case of infants suffering from measles, small quantities of milk should be fed at frequent intervals. After the first three days, additional foods can be included in a menu for measles.

When a patient is in the convalescence period and once the body temperature reaches a more normal level, then other foods like eggs, milk pudding, bread and butter, as well as small amounts of mashed potato and white fish can also be added to a meal plan for measles. Some of the most commonly used recipes for measles, used by most parents is rice prepared in weak chicken broth, with pieces of potatoes in it. This recipe is fairly light on the stomach and is quite high in nutrition, which is why it can boost the strength in a measles patient, facilitating faster recovery. The body requires a high amount of liquids too and therefore, the patient should be given at least 8 glasses of water each day, along with other liquids, some of which include diluted lemon juice, barley juice, orange juice, coconut water and in case of adults, herbal tea.

While there are some foods that are good for patients suffering from measles, there are others that can aggravate the discomfort and therefore, should be strictly avoided. Hence, a diet for measles should be completely free of fried food, junk food, processed food, heavy meats, spices, oil, aerated drinks, sweets and salty snacks. All these food items are difficult to digest and therefore should be avoided by measles patients.

While the right nutrition for measles plays a very important role in the recovery process, there are many other factors that can help to expedite the process. It is absolutely essential for the patient to get an adequate amount of sleep and rest each day. This preserves the strength in the body, allowing it to get better at a faster pace. Harsh light can have a detrimental effect on the eyes of the patient, as measles affect the entire body including the eyes. It is important to ensure that children are not exposed to too much sunlight; it is best to have the child spend most of the time in a cool, well-ventilated room, which has subdued light. The toxins need to be eliminated from the body, as soon as possible and therefore, apart from a high amount of water, a mud-pack should be applied on to the chest and the abdominal area of the patient, twice a day. Since the rash that appears during measles is very itchy, patients can seek relief by wearing loose cotton clothing in light colors. The use of soaps and shampoos with harsh chemicals should also be strictly avoided.

Even though measles is not a very serious condition, it is best to get the patient examined by a doctor, before following a recommended diet for measles.

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