Diet for Bronchitis

Bronchitis Diet

In acute cases of bronchitis, the patient should fast on orange juice and water till the symptoms subside.



The procedure is to take the juice of an orange in a glass of warm water every two hours from 8 a.m. To 8 p.m. Dur¬ing this period, the bowels should be cleansed daily with a warm water enema. After the juice fast, the patient should adopt an all-fruit diet for two or three days.

In case of chronic bronchitis, the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for five to seven days in the beginning of the treatment. In this regimen, he should have three meal~ a day of fresh juicy fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, grapefruits, oranges, pineapples, peaches and melons. Bananas, and dried or stewed or tinned fruits should not be taken.



For drinks, unsweetened lemon water or cold or hot plain water may be taken,

After the all-fruit diet, the patient should follow a well-balanced diet based on the three basic food groups, namely, seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits, as outlined in Chapter 1 on Diet in Health and Disease. The patient should avoid meats, sugar; tea, coffee, condiments, pickles, refined and processed foods, soft drinks, candies, ice cream and products made from sugar and white flour.

Treatment of Bronchitis

Certain vegetables juices have been found valuable in the treatment of bronchitis. The combined juice of carrot and spinach is especially beneficial. Formula proportions consi¬dered helpful in this combination are carrot 10 ounces and spinach 6 ounces to prepare 16 ounces or 1 pint of juice.

A hot Epsom salt bath every night or every other night will be highly beneficial during the acute stages of the attack.



The patient should remain immersed in the bath for about 20 minutes. In case of chronic bronchitis, this bath may be taken twice a week. Hot towels wrung out and applied over the upper chest are also helpful. Fresh air and outdoor exercises are also essential to the treatment of bronchitis and the patient should take a long walk every day.

TREATMENT CHART FOR BRONCHITIS

A- DIET

I. An exclusively diet of fresh juicy fruits, with three meals a day at five-hourly intervals.

II. Thereafter, adopt the following diet:-

1. Upon arising:

A glass of lukewarm water mixed with half a freshly squeezed lime and a teaspoon of honey.

2. Breakfast:

Fresh fruits, a cup of fresh milk sweetened with honey and nuts.

3. Lunch:

A bowl of steamed vegetables, whole wheat wheat tortilla with butter.

4. Mid-afternoon:

A glass of fresh fruit or vegetable juice.

5. Dinner:

A bowl of fresh green vegetable salad, with limejuice dressing, sprouted seeds and homemade cottage cheese.

6. Before retiring: Few dates and milk.

Avoid:

Flesh foods, sugar, white flour, products made from white sugar and white flour, tea, coffee, condiments, pickles, refined and processed foods and soft drinks.

Important: If any of the following common food allergens agravate the trouble, the same should be avoided, oranges, milk, eggs, wheat, chocolates, cabbage, potatoes, and tomatoes. Diet should include lots of garlic, green vegetables, and manganese rich foods such as pear, beans and nuts.

B - OTHER MEASURES

1. Wet chest packs daily for 1 hour on empty stomach.
2. A hot epsom-salt bath twice a week in the night.
3. Brisk walks and deep breathing, exercise as well as yogic asanas.