Proper Nutrition for Pneumonia: Beneficial Foods and Key Recommendations

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Publiation data: 08.02.2026 08:35
Proper Nutrition for Pneumonia: Beneficial Foods and Key Recommendations

Pneumonia is accompanied by intoxication and a pronounced clinical picture. This disease requires adherence to a specific regimen, including carefully selected nutrition. The dietary regimen for pneumonia is aimed at rapid recovery, enhancing the body's immune defense, and relieving the digestive system.

 

In cases of pneumonia, it is recommended to follow Pevzner's diet No. 13 during the acute phase and No. 15 during recovery. Azertag.az, referring to "MedikForum" provides detailed information on nutritional principles during pneumonia.

Key Principles of Nutrition

In the first days of illness, patients experience weakness, fever, and inflammatory processes. In such situations, a gentle diet is necessary. During the first 3-5 days, it is recommended to consume about 2.5 liters of purified water. It is also beneficial to drink water with the addition of freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice, as these beverages are rich in vitamin C, which reduces intoxication and strengthens the immune system.

It is recommended to drink tea with mint, sage, linden flowers, and rose hips. These herbs promote increased diuresis and sweating, which helps to eliminate toxins and the metabolic products of bacteria causing pneumonia more quickly. The diet should include warm milk mixed with melted butter, which saturates the body with calcium, proteins, and fats necessary for strengthening the immune system.

If the patient is able to eat independently, the diet should include light vegetable soups made with meat broth, pureed soups, or broths. Coarse foods and dishes should be excluded for now to reduce the load on the digestive system.

A decrease in temperature and a reduction in symptoms of intoxication indicate that it is possible to gradually add more calorie-dense foods to the diet. Good options include eggs, meat and fish patties, whole grain bread, vegetables, fruits, well-cooked cereals, and vegetable oils (up to 5 tablespoons per day).

The mentioned foods contribute to the restoration of lung cells and tissues, providing the body with the necessary building materials and enhancing its protective functions.

Prohibited Foods for Pneumonia:

Sugar. It is recommended to replace it with fructose, honey, stevia leaves, or cane sugar.

Alcohol lowers immunity and increases the level of intoxication in the blood.

Legumes and white cabbage can cause gas formation in the intestines, bloating, and slow the recovery of lung tissue.

Baked goods made from white refined wheat flour, pasta, potatoes, and white rice. These fast-acting carbohydrates are only allowed for people with high physical activity.

Smoked foods, spicy and seasoned dishes increase blood flow in the stomach and intestines, which slows the recovery of the respiratory system.

Fried foods. The oxidation of vegetable oils at high temperatures reduces the level of surfactant, which is already insufficient in pneumonia.

Nutrition Principles for Table No. 15

This dietary system should be followed when intoxication has almost passed, but the airways are still not cleared of mucus, and the lungs have not yet recovered. In this case, it is necessary to exclude carbonated drinks, spicy and seasoned foods, smoked products, and foods with fast carbohydrates (potatoes, white rice, etc.).

Cereals can be consumed drier, soups made with meat broth with regular vegetables, but without frying. There are no restrictions on the quantity of vegetables and fruits. Dairy products should be included in the diet in the morning and evening.

After a course of antibiotics, it will be necessary to restore intestinal function. For this, it is recommended to have a eubiotic dinner: half an hour before bedtime, drink kefir or eat boiled beets, carrots, turnips, or buckwheat porridge without meat. These foods contain fiber and other components that help normalize the microflora, which will also aid recovery after pneumonia.

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