When you are ill you hope for the illness to go away, and when the symptom improve you are perplexed by the fact that you still feel groggy, you are tired and weak, and you can hardly get up from bed. Do not worry, you are not having a relapse, and you are not coming down with something new, you are simply entering into the healing phase called convalescence.
What is Convalescence
This is the time after an illness when your body is rebuilding the energy it lost while you were sick. This occurs after every illness, even a minor one. Your body uses a lot of energy fighting an illness, and once the illness is gone it is time for a recovery period to begin. For the most part this period of recovery is short, but when people have had a serious illness that lasted for a long time, the recovery period can seem painfully slow. People often get frustrated because even though their doctor says they are well they cannot get up and do the things they normally would.
Ways to Speed Up the Recovery Period
You can help your body speed up the convalescence period by doing a few simple things like:
- Get plenty of rest; your body needs you to conserve energy so it can grow stronger
- Drink plenty of fluids; when you allow your body to become dehydrated you cause the recovery period to take longer because dehydration is something that weakens the body
- Eat a proper diet; your body needs the right fuel in order for it to gain the strength it needs. So eat a well balanced diet during this period
- Stay warm and dry; if your body is trying to fight off the effects of a damp or cold room then it will take longer to recover
- Get up and move around for short periods of time several times a day; the exercise will help to strengthen your body
- Try to maintain a positive outlook; when a patient is depressed they actually have a longer recovery time than patients who are up-beat and cheerful; so approach this time with a healthy attitude and allow your body to do what needs doing
A Proper Diet during Convalescence
It cannot be stressed to you enough that the proper diet plays a key factor in the amount of time your body takes to recover after an illness. Even if you normally eat a completely different type of diet, during this time you must get proper nutrition to fuel your body for recovery. The things you need to include in an after illness diet are:
- Whole grains, whole grain breads, pastas, cereal
- Fresh fruits
- Vegetables such as asparagus, cauliflower, carrots, and broccoli that is served steamed or raw
- Tofu products because they provide amino acids the way meats do without the cholesterol or uric acid
- Cold water fish, seafood, and meats with less fat content
- Spinach, and spinach juice will provide your body with added iron
Keep fat intake low, and eat several small meals each day instead of three large ones.